Despite Ghana earning approximately GHS 1.93 billion from shea exports, the country still imported GHS 1.86 billion worth of shea oil.
In the opening ceremony of the World Shea Expo 2026 at Wa, the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Office of the President, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor explained the government’s policy to sustain and improve the livelihood of the shae farmers and the processors.
“This means that while we produce, others process and profit more. This imbalance is not sustainable, and it is exactly what we are determined to change,” he declared as compared Ghana’s raw export value to the imported value of finished products.
To combat this, said the government is taking bold policy steps, including a phased restriction on the export of raw shea nuts to retain more value within Ghana. He added that the introduction of the 24-Hour Economy policy will further transform the sector by removing time limits on processing and reducing post-harvest losses.
“For many women across northern Ghana, especially in this very region, the shea nut is not just a product—it is survival, it is school fees, it is healthcare, and it is hope,” Dr. Otokunor added.
Championing this export course, the Member of Parliament for Wa East and Board Chairman for the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, stressed the critical need for strict local bylaws to preserve the shea tree from environmental destruction.
“The shea tree is a climate-resilient economic lifeline for Northern Ghana,” Dr. Jasaw stated. “If we do not jealously protect the raw material source, our processing targets and government investments will mean nothing.”
This agenda was further reinforced by GEPA’s Deputy CEO, Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh, who elaborated on the authority’s commitment to facilitating international market access for local processors. He highlighted that Ghana holds a significant share of the global shea industry, valued at $6.4 billion.
“By enforcing the mandate to process at least 50% of our raw materials locally, we are aggressively working toward our target of $10 billion in non-traditional export revenue by 2030,” Mr. Nsarkoh explained.
