Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has officially opened the SHEA 2026 Conference, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to transforming its shea industry through value addition and industrial growth.
The conference, organised by the Global Shea Alliance with support from the Government’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat, has brought together stakeholders from 21 African countries, alongside development partners, to chart a new course for the sector.
In her keynote address, the Vice President emphasised the urgent need for Ghana and other African countries to move beyond the export of raw shea materials and instead prioritise processing and value-added production. She noted that such a transition is critical to achieving sustainable economic growth under the government’s Reset Agenda.
She highlighted that the shea sector remains a vital pillar of Ghana’s rural economy, providing livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of women across the country. According to her, empowering these women through improved processing capacity, access to markets, and investment in the value chain will significantly boost incomes and strengthen local economies.
The Global Shea Alliance, which was inaugurated in 2011 under the leadership of former President John Dramani Mahama, has over the years expanded its reach and impact, fostering collaboration among producers, exporters, and international partners to promote the sustainable development of the shea industry across Africa.
Participants at the conference are expected to deliberate on strategies to enhance production standards, deepen regional cooperation, and attract investment into the shea value chain, with a strong focus on industrialisation and export competitiveness.
The SHEA 2026 Conference is anticipated to yield actionable outcomes that will further position Ghana and the African continent as leaders in the global shea market, while ensuring inclusive growth for the women who form the backbone of the industry.
