The Ghana Shea Employers Association (GSEA) has commended the government for its efforts to strengthen and reposition the country’s shea industry. The association welcomes the introduction of a regulated minimum producer price of GH¢9.01 per kilogram of shea nuts by the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) and the planned ban on the export of raw shea nuts by 2026.
However, the association notes that access to affordable and flexible financing remains a significant bottleneck for enterprises and cooperatives operating in the shea value chain.
This challenge undermines the viability of promising businesses and threatens the effective implementation of recent government interventions.
The GSEA is calling on the government to provide tailored financial support to the shea sector, particularly for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Cooperatives.
The association believes that this support will enable the sector to respond to minimum pricing regulations, capitalize on export opportunities, and meet growing global demand for shea products.
The association has also expressed concerns about the influx of foreigners into the shea industry, which they believe threatens the livelihoods of local producers. They are calling on the government to strengthen its regulations to prevent this influx and protect the interests of local producers.
“Without tailored financial support, the sector’s capacity to respond to the minimum pricing regulations, capitalize on export opportunities, and meet growing global demand for shea products will be severely constrained,” said Mr. Dokurugu Andrew Yahaya, Executive Member of GSEA.
“We don’t have the strength to stop them from entering the bush to buy the nuts, but government can do something about it,” said Hajia Rabiatu Abukari, President of GSEA.
The GSEA believes that with the right support and regulations, the shea industry can thrive and provide livelihoods for thousands of women in the sector.
The association is looking forward to working with the government to ensure the successful implementation of policies that will benefit the industry.
The shea industry, according to the GSEA employed close to 900,000 largely women in the shea value chain.
