The event, themed “Empowering Women and Youth-Led SMEs: The Role of Government and Financial Institutions,” will serve as a trade fair, policy summit, and cultural showcase. It will unite stakeholders across the shea value chain — from rural nut collectors to international brand executives.

Shea: “Women’s Gold”

Often called karité or “women’s gold,” shea sustains more than one million women in northern Ghana. While the global shea market is valued at over US$2 billion, Ghana mainly exports raw nuts, limiting local earnings. In 2023 alone, the country exported 70,000 tonnes of raw shea worth US$112.6 million, though processed shea products can fetch up to ten times more.

Government’s Vision

The government has identified shea as a strategic resource for rural industrialisation, job creation, and export diversification. President John Dramani Mahama’s administration has pledged to shift from raw exports toward local processing, branding, and value addition.

Central to this effort is the revival of the Buipe Shea Factory, set to become one of West Africa’s largest processing hubs. The initiative also aligns with the government’s 24-hour economy policy, aimed at boosting production and trade while creating sustainable jobs for women and youth.

Financing Transformation

The Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM) is expected to play a key role in financing the industry. With its mandate to boost trade competitiveness, GEXIM is preparing tailored credit schemes, certification financing, and entrepreneurship training — particularly targeting women, who represent 90% of the shea workforce.

A Defining Moment

For many, the World Shea Expo 2025 is more than just an industry event — it is a turning point. The Expo promises to reposition Ghana as a global hub for high-value, ethically sourced, and sustainable shea products.

By strengthening women- and youth-led small enterprises, building rural processing industries, and connecting Ghanaian brands directly to global markets, the Expo could mark the beginning of a new era — one where prosperity flows back to the communities that have nurtured the shea trade for generations.

source: myjoyonline