The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, says women in the shea value chain must receive a greater share of the industry’s benefits.
She made the call on Tuesday, April 28, at the Shea Conference 2026, organised by the Global Shea Alliance, where representatives from 21 African countries met to discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Speaking at the conference, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said addressing disparities in earnings for women, who play a central role in the industry, is key to boosting productivity and ensuring sustainable growth.
“Just as important is recognising the central role of women in this sector. You didn’t hear that one. Women dominate the value chain from kernel collection to primary processing, and their work supports families and communities across Ghana. But the women need to benefit more from the value.
“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,” she said.
She also called for the protection of shea parklands, describing them as critical economic assets and essential to positioning Africa as a leading global hub for Shea production.
“We must protect and restore the shea parklands, while supporting farmers and collectors. Shea parklands are unique agroforestry systems that support biodiversity, improve soil fertility, and strengthen climate resilience across the savanna landscape. This approach will help meet increasing global demand while safeguarding the environmental integrity of these landscapes,” she added.
The Vice President further urged a shift from exporting raw Shea kernels and butter to value addition, particularly in the food and cosmetics industries.
