Ghana Positions Itself as a Global Shea Hub at World Shea Expo 2025
Tamale, Ghana, recently played host to the World Shea Expo 2025, a landmark event that drew over 8,000 participants from across the global shea value chain. Producers, international buyers, policymakers, and development partners gathered in the Northern Regional capital for a three-day event focused on elevating shea from a subsistence crop to a strategic economic asset. The Expo, held from September 2nd to 4th, showcased Ghana's ambition to become a global leader in shea processing, branding, and trade.
A Vision for Transformation
The Expo’s theme, “Empowering Women and Youth-Led SMEs: The Role of Government and Financial Institutions,” underscored its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. The event highlighted the critical role of women, who constitute the majority of the workforce in the shea sector, and the importance of engaging youth in driving innovation and entrepreneurship.
The official opening ceremony featured a keynote address that set the tone for the event. It was emphasized that the Expo was more than just a trade fair, but a platform for realizing a vision of a transformed shea sector that benefits every stakeholder, from farmers to processors.
Day One: Celebrating Women in Shea
The opening day of the Expo shone a spotlight on the women who are the backbone of the shea industry. Their contributions, often overlooked, are essential to the production and processing of shea. The story of a mother of seven from the Tungteiya Women’s Shea Butter Association, whose income from shea processing supports her family’s education and healthcare, exemplified the vital role shea plays in the livelihoods of women in Ghana's northern regions.
A dedicated "Women in Shea Panel" provided a platform for cooperative leaders to share their experiences and challenges. Panelists emphasized the urgent need for increased access to finance, improved market linkages, and stronger institutional support to ensure that women benefit equitably from the global shea trade.
The day culminated in a vibrant Shea Trade Fair, where Ghanaian cooperatives, processors, and youth-led enterprises showcased their shea butter, cosmetics, soaps, and food products to international buyers. The fair served as a hub for forging new partnerships and securing export deals.
Day Two: Finance, Youth, and Innovation
The second day of the Expo focused on unlocking capital, fostering entrepreneurship, and introducing innovation into the shea sector. The Investors Forum brought together financiers, development partners, and agribusiness leaders to explore investment opportunities in Ghana’s shea value chain.
The Director of the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness presented a vision for Ghana to increase its shea nut production to 400,000 metric tonnes annually, valued at US$640 million. This ambitious goal requires investment in modern processing facilities, mechanized harvesting, cold storage, and efficient logistics.
A Youth Entrepreneurship Workshop provided training in processing, branding, and market entry for young innovators. Start-ups producing shea-based cosmetics and foods demonstrated the potential for value-added exports. The Sustainability Showcase highlighted climate-smart cultivation practices and the role of shea in combating desertification and protecting biodiversity.
Day Three: Policy, Awards, and Field Visits
The final day of the Expo was dedicated to charting a long-term roadmap for the shea industry. A Policy Dialogue brought together government officials, private sector representatives, and development partners to discuss strategies for strengthening Ghana’s competitiveness in the global shea economy.
A key announcement was the revival of the Buipe Shea Processing Factory, a facility that is expected to process up to 180,000 metric tonnes annually when fully operational. The factory is projected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, particularly for women and youth.
The introduction of enforceable national standards for shea kernels and butter, spearheaded by the Tree Crops Development Authority, the Ghana Standards Authority and GEPA, was another significant policy highlight. These standards are designed to enable Ghanaian products to access premium markets and enhance the country’s reputation for quality.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to farmer welfare with the introduction of a price floor mechanism for shea, modeled after the cocoa industry, to protect smallholders from market volatility. An Awards Ceremony recognized outstanding cooperatives, processors, exporters, and youth-led enterprises.
The Expo concluded with field visits to processing centers in Northern Ghana, providing delegates with firsthand experience of the challenges and opportunities in the shea sector.
Key Outcomes and Commitments
The World Shea Expo 2025 generated concrete outcomes that are expected to shape the future of Ghana’s shea industry. Over 150 business-to-business partnerships were formed, ranging from buyer-supplier agreements to joint ventures between local cooperatives and international firms.
Training and capacity-building opportunities were provided for over 200 SMEs and youth-led businesses. These initiatives are designed to equip them with the skills needed to produce value-added shea exports.
Government officials reiterated their commitment to aligning the shea sector with Ghana’s economic agenda. The revival of the Buipe Shea Processing Factory and the introduction of national quality standards for shea butter and kernels are key steps in this direction.
A donation of 20,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to women shea collectors across the northern regions was announced. This initiative, supported by the Ghana EXIM Bank, GEPA, and the Directorate of Presidential Initiatives, aims to enhance safety and productivity in the field.
Financial institutions were encouraged to develop flexible products for women’s cooperatives and youth SMEs, while development partners were urged to invest in research, innovation, and infrastructure. Traditional leaders were reminded of the importance of protecting shea landscapes, and the media was tasked with promoting Ghana’s shea story. These collective commitments signal a shift from rhetoric to action, positioning the Expo as a catalyst for sustainable growth in the shea sector. The Expo positions Ghana as a key player in the growing global shea market, emphasizing the importance of empowering women, engaging youth, and promoting sustainable practices.
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