The Upper West Region has officially launched the World Shea Expo 2026 at a colourful ceremony held at the Regional Coordinating Council in Wa, marked by a high-profile press briefing and the unveiling of the event’s official logo.
The launch brought together government officials, traditional authorities, and key players in the financial sector. It also featured important policy announcements alongside the donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to women’s shea-picking cooperatives.
The event opened on a cultural note, with a lively performance by the Centre for National Culture, which entertained guests with traditional music and dance.
Speaking at the ceremony, Upper West Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing expressed pride in the region’s selection to host the global event, emphasising its readiness to tap into the economic opportunities within the shea value chain.
“We are profoundly honoured to host this vital gathering,” he said.
He further underscored the region’s commitment to supporting women involved in the shea industry, describing the sector as a key pillar of the local economy. “The Upper West Region is fully committed to supporting the shea value chain and its hardworking women, recognising that this industry is a cornerstone of our local economy,” he added.
The government has outlined a renewed strategy for Ghana’s shea industry, with the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Office of the President, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, explaining that the decision to launch initiatives in the Upper West Region was intentional, aimed at directing investment closer to production areas.
He noted that for many women in northern Ghana, particularly in the Upper West Region, shea nuts represent far more than a commodity.
“For many women across northern Ghana, especially in this very region, the shea nut is not just a product, it is survival, school fees, healthcare, and hope,” Dr Otokunor said.
The event also featured a vibrant cultural moment, as Dr Otokunor joined participants in a communal chant and attempted a popular northern shea song. Women from the Bimbu Meyiri Foundation responded enthusiastically, singing and showcasing traditional shea-processing techniques, drawing admiration from attendees.
Touching on challenges within the sector, Dr Otokunor highlighted a persistent trade imbalance despite Ghana’s strong export performance.
He disclosed that while the country generates about GH₵1.93 billion from shea exports, it still imports GH₵1.86 billion worth of shea oil and GH₵1.35 billion worth of raw shea nuts.
“This means that while we produce, others process and profit more. This imbalance is not sustainable, and it is exactly what we are determined to change,” he emphasized.
To tackle the challenge, he disclosed that government is considering a phased restriction on the export of raw shea nuts. The move is aimed at retaining more value within the country by encouraging local processing.
He further noted that the 24-Hour Economy policy will play a key role in expanding processing capacity and helping to reduce post-harvest losses.
The Member of Parliament for Wa East and Board Chairman of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, also stressed the importance of enforcing strong local by-laws to safeguard shea trees from environmental degradation.
According to him, the shea tree remains a climate-resilient economic lifeline for communities in Northern Ghana.
“If we fail to jealously protect the raw material source, then our processing targets and government investments will not yield the desired impact,” Dr Jasaw cautioned.
GEPA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to helping local processors break into international markets. He noted that Ghana continues to command a significant share of the global shea industry, currently valued at $6.4 billion.
According to him, efforts to enforce the policy requiring at least 50 per cent of raw materials to be processed locally form part of a broader strategy to boost non-traditional export earnings to $10 billion by 2030.
Project Director of the World Shea Expo, Eric Banye, also highlighted the success of the previous edition, which drew strong international participation and wider industry engagement.
He disclosed that the Expo attracted close to 8,000 participants from 16 countries, with 136 exhibitors displaying more than 716 shea-based products at the dedicated Shea Village.
Mr Banye added that women made up 82 per cent of participants, while the youth accounted for 64 per cent. Persons with disabilities represented 1.4 per cent of attendees.
The event further brought together 37 government agencies, 18 financial institutions, 94 diplomatic missions and development partners, eight academic and research institutions, six second-cycle schools, 21 media organisations, eight traditional leaders, and 512 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including several women’s cooperatives.
He further revealed that about 10,000 business-to-business linkages had been facilitated to strengthen partnerships within the shea industry, while the Government of Ghana provided 20,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE) to support workers across the sector.
Private sector commitment to the industry was also reaffirmed by Imoru Alhassan, Chief Executive Officer of Savannah Golden Tree Limited, who said the company remains dedicated to creating more opportunities for women and young people in the shea value chain.
According to him, the company’s successful collaboration with government and industry stakeholders during the 2025 World Shea Expo in Tamale has positioned it to deliver an even bigger and more impactful event in 2026.
“Having successfully partnered with government and stakeholders to organise the 2025 World Shea Expo in Tamale, Savannah Golden Tree Limited stands fully committed to delivering the 2026 edition with even greater success,” he stated.
Alhaji Imoru also appealed to traditional leaders to support efforts aimed at protecting shea trees, describing them as an important economic resource for local communities and the country as a whole.
“Help us to jealously protect the shea tree as a valuable resource,” he urged.
Naa Ali Pelpuo Yelmaana, popularly known as Busa Naa, also highlighted the critical role traditional authorities play in protecting shea parklands and supporting women involved in shea harvesting.
According to him, many women leave their homes at dawn and risk their lives in snake-infested bushes without adequate protective equipment in order to support their families and communities. He said the traditional council is committed to enforcing bylaws aimed at protecting both the shea trees and the women who depend on them for their livelihoods.
“Our women wake up at dawn and brave snake-infested bushes without proper gear to sustain our communities,” he stated. “The traditional council publicly pledges to enforce protective bylaws for both our invaluable shea trees and the women who harvest them.”
The event reached its peak with the official unveiling of the logo for the World Shea Expo 2026, as chants of “Kruya, kruya” echoed through the hall in celebration.
Following the official launch declaration by Dr Rashid Pelpuo Otokunor on behalf of John Dramani Mahama, organisers presented personal protective equipment (PPE) to several shea-picking cooperatives.
The items distributed included locally manufactured Wellington boots to protect pickers from snake bites, as well as long protective gloves designed for safer harvesting in the bush.
The first batch of support items was presented to the Bimbu Meyiri Foundation together with an “aboboyaa” tricycle to help transport shea nuts more efficiently. Organisers said additional high-performing associations are expected to benefit from similar support packages in the near future.
Representatives of the Chansa and Wechau shea-picking groups later received their allocations during the presentation ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the women’s groups, Hajia Pognaa Afisata, who also serves as an ambassador for the Shea Parks Resource Hub Project, expressed gratitude to the President and development partners for the support.
She described the intervention as more than just a donation, saying it reflects recognition of the critical role women play in the shea industry and local economic development.
“Our women are the architects of our prosperity,” she said. “Providing this safety gear is not only a practical contribution, but also an act of dignity. When we protect the picker, we protect the harvest, and when we add value to the harvest, we transform our region.”
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