By Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for stronger investment in value addition, sustainability and regional collaboration in Africa’s shea industry, as the Global Shea Alliance marked its 15th anniversary at the opening of the SHEA 2026 conference in Accra, Ghana.
Addressing conference participants, the Vice President said the shea sector remains a critical source of livelihoods for millions of people across Africa, particularly women engaged in shea collection and processing.
She noted that the Global Shea Alliance has expanded significantly since its inauguration in 2011 by then Vice President John Mahama, growing from 48 members to more than 900 members worldwide.
“In Ghana alone, hundreds of thousands of women are engaged in shea activities, particularly in the northern part of our country,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said. “Shea trees are part of everyday life, providing food and income and contributing to exports.”
The Vice President stressed that Africa must move beyond the export of raw shea kernels and focus on processing and industrialisation to capture more value from the industry.
“Transforming shea kernels into butter and then into ingredients for the food and cosmetics sectors enables our countries to add more value, generate more jobs, and strengthen rural economies,” she stated.
According to her, the government’s industrialisation agenda and the proposed 24-hour economy initiative are expected to support continuous production, processing and trade across key sectors, including shea.
“This means moving beyond the export of raw materials towards greater value addition, processing and industrial development,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also highlighted the environmental importance of shea parklands, describing them as vital ecosystems that support biodiversity, improve soil fertility and strengthen climate resilience across the sub-region.
“Protecting them is not only an economic necessity but also an environmental responsibility,” she added.
She further called for greater economic empowerment for women who dominate the shea value chain.
“Women dominate the value chain from kernel collection to primary processing, but they need to benefit more from their labour and value,” the Vice President said. “Addressing this imbalance is not only a matter of equity; it is essential to improving productivity, raising incomes, and ensuring the sector’s long-term sustainability.”
French Ambassador Highlights Global Support for Shea Sector
The French Ambassador to Ghana, Diarra Dimé-Labille, described shea as more than just an export commodity, saying the sector plays a major role in poverty reduction and women’s empowerment across Africa.
“Shea is much more than an export commodity. It is a crucial source of income for thousands of households,” the ambassador stated.
She reaffirmed France’s support for Ghana’s shea sector through partnerships with the European Union and development agencies aimed at promoting sustainable production and expanding market opportunities.
The ambassador said long-term growth in the industry would depend on strong partnerships, education, sustainable practices, and improved local processing capacity.
Organisers Outline Growth and Future Vision of Global Shea Alliance
Managing Director of the Global Shea Alliance, Aaron Adu, said the organisation now has more than 900 members drawn from over 40 countries, with about 780 delegates attending the conference.
He recounted the alliance’s journey from its formation in 2010, when 45 founding members signed the original declaration in Accra, to becoming a global advocate for the shea industry.
“We have come a long way,” he said. “The membership has grown from 45 to over 900 now, from 40 countries.”
Mr Adu noted that the alliance has spent the past 15 years promoting market access, sustainability, quality standards, and policy advocacy for shea producers across Africa.
He said the organisation has also established partnerships with international agencies and expanded the use of shea products in the food and cosmetics industries across Europe, Asia, and North America.
According to him, the alliance is now shifting focus toward policy reforms, sustainability, market research, and investment promotion to secure the future of the industry.
“We would like to work to develop a new strategy that will focus on policy, regulatory and standards, sustainability impact, market research, and insights,” he said.
The SHEA 2026 conference has brought together delegates from 21 African countries, alongside international development partners, private sector actors and policymakers, to discuss the future of Africa’s shea industry and opportunities for sustainable growth.
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