Tamale hosts World Shea Expo 2025
The World Shea Expo 2025 has firmly placed Tamale on the global map of the shea industry, drawing more than 8,000 participants across the value chain to the Modern City Hotel from 2 to 4 September.
Producers, international buyers, policymakers, financiers and development partners converged for what organisers described as the most significant global gathering on shea ever held in Ghana.
The Expo, themed “Empowering Women and Youth-Led SMEs: The Role of Government and Financial Institutions”, was officially opened by Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, who pledged government’s commitment to transform shea into a strategic export commodity.
Women at the Centre
Day One highlighted the indispensable role of women, who make up nearly 90 per cent of the shea workforce across northern Ghana.
The story of Abubakar Barkatu, a mother of seven and member of the Tungteiya Women’s Shea Butter Association, reflected how shea sustains households through school fees, healthcare and family upkeep.
Panel discussions revealed persistent barriers including limited financing, weak market access and lack of institutional support, while cooperatives called for policies ensuring women share equitably in global earnings.
The Shea Trade Fair that followed created direct links between Ghanaian producers and international buyers, with dozens of contracts initiated on-site.
Finance, Youth and Sustainability
Day Two shifted focus to investment, markets and innovation. Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, projected Ghana could scale annual production to 400,000 metric tonnes worth USD640 million with modernised processing.
He emphasised the need to move beyond raw kernel exports into refining, branding and packaging to secure Ghana’s share of a global market expected to surpass USD3 billion by 2030.
Youth-led enterprises showcased innovative shea-based cosmetics and packaged foods, while sustainability sessions stressed agroforestry, climate-smart harvesting and replanting to protect shea landscapes.
Policy Commitments and Legacy
The final day delivered major commitments, including the revival of the Buipe Shea Processing Factory, expected to process up to 180,000 tonnes annually and create 30,000 to 40,000 jobs under the 24-hour economy agenda.
Government also announced new national standards for shea kernels and butter, paving the way for Ghanaian products to access premium markets.
A proposed price floor mechanism, modelled on cocoa, was unveiled to guarantee fair earnings for smallholder farmers.
An awards ceremony recognised outstanding cooperatives and youth enterprises, followed by field visits that gave delegates firsthand insight into both the challenges and resilience of local processors.
By close, more than 150 business-to-business partnerships had been formed, 200 SMEs received training and 20,000 sets of PPE were distributed to women collectors, a move expected to double nut recovery rates.
Global Significance
With shea trees spanning 21 African countries, the Expo underscored the potential for cross-border collaboration and collective bargaining power in international markets.
It also reaffirmed shea’s growing importance in cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals, while anchoring women and youth as central to inclusive growth.
As Dr Otokunor noted: “The World Shea Expo 2025 is not just a celebration, it is a platform for transformation.”
