Ghana Targets $640 Million Shea Industry Growth as Obuasi Traders Receive Recovery Support

Ghana has set its sights on transforming the shea industry into a $640 million powerhouse, as highlighted at the 2026 World Shea Expo currently underway in Tamale. The government aims to increase annual shea nut production from approximately 130,000 to 400,000 metric tonnes, building on Ghana's 2025 status as the world’s leading exporter of shea butter. Organized under the theme "From Local Commodity to Global Brand: Accelerating Women and Youth-led Value Addition in Shea," the three-day event seeks to pivot the industry from simple raw material export to high-value ownership and enterprise development for youth and women.

Speaking at the Expo, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor emphasized the sector's potential to drive job creation and rural development through targeted investment. Key initiatives include the establishment of the John Mahama Shea Demonstration Farm—a hybrid plantation dedicated to research and modern cultivation—and the revival of the Buipe Shea Processing Factory. These efforts, spearheaded by Savannah Golden Tree Limited in collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association, aim to overcome persistent challenges like limited financing and inadequate infrastructure. The Expo itself is expected to facilitate nearly $10 million in new business linkages and export opportunities.

Parallel to these national industrial goals, grassroots business resilience was bolstered in Obuasi, where Bawa-Rock Limited provided a GH‵1.5 million support package to 300 traders affected by a recent fire at the Obuasi Town Hall. The initiative, which includes the distribution of sewing machines to master trainers and apprentices, is designed to help local entrepreneurs recover their livelihoods and rebuild their businesses. Eric Addae Boateng, Business Development and Sustainability Manager for Bawa-Rock, noted that the package is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to ease the financial burden on affected small-scale businesses.

The Municipal Chief Executive of Obuasi, Faustilove Appiah Kanin, joined calls for private sector players to support recovery efforts, echoing the national sentiment of the Shea Expo regarding the importance of sustainable investment. As Ghana continues to strengthen its position in the global market, both the industrial scaling of shea and the localized support for fire victims underscore a dual-track approach to economic stability. By combining large-scale export strategies with targeted local interventions, the country aims to foster an inclusive business environment that supports both global trade ambitions and domestic commercial recovery.