The Government of Ghana has announced an ambitious plan to double Shea nut recovery from 40 percent to 80 percent annually, with a projected revenue target of $640 million from the sector.

Currently, the country earns about $118 million annually from Shea.

Speaking at the opening of the three-day World Shea Expo in Tamale on Tuesday, Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, who represented President John Dramani Mahama, called on development partners and financial institutions to invest in technology, innovation, and research to strengthen the Shea value chain.

“This Expo is historic as it comes at a time when the world is eager to partner with Ghana in value addition and innovation using our natural resources,” she said, adding that the Expo’s theme aligns with the government’s flagship 24-hour economy policy.

She highlighted several initiatives aimed at boosting Shea production, including the revamping of the Buipe Shea Processing Factory in the Savannah Region and the donation of 20,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) to women engaged in Shea nut recovery. 

The Deputy Chief of Staff also revealed plans to introduce a pricing regime for Shea, similar to the one in the cocoa sector, to ensure fair trade and stability for farmers.

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo urged traditional authorities to help curb the indiscriminate felling and burning of Shea trees for charcoal production, describing the practice as a major threat to the industry.

The second edition of the World Shea Expo has brought together over 8,000 participants from across Africa to deliberate on policies, programmes, and investments to scale up Shea production. 

Organised under the Presidential Initiative on Agriculture and Agribusiness, the event runs from September 2 to 4 and features keynote speeches, policy discussions, and panel sessions on ways to strengthen the Shea value chain and empower women and youth-led businesses in the sector.