ACCRA hosted the 2026 International Shea Butter Conference yesterday, bringing together about 780 delegates from Africa and other parts of the world to discuss trade, jobs, women’s empowerment, and the future of the shea industry.

780 delegates gather in Accra

The event also marked the 15th anniversary of the Global Shea Alliance, whose membership has grown from fewer than 50 founding members in 2010 to more than 900 members from about 40 countries.

Opening the conference on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang said the growing global demand for shea products presents a major opportunity for Ghana and other African countries.

She said countries in the shea belt must move beyond exporting raw nuts and focus on adding value through local processing into butter and ingredients for the food, confectionery, and cosmetics industries.

“Transforming nuts into butter and then into ingredients enables our countries to add more value, create jobs, and strengthen rural economies,” she said.

The Vice President noted that hundreds of thousands of women in Ghana, especially in the northern regions, depend on shea-related activities for income and family support.

She said government policies aimed at industrial growth, local production, and continuous business operations could help expand processing capacity and create more jobs for women and young people.

She also called for stronger protection of shea parklands, describing them as important ecosystems that support biodiversity, improve soil fertility, and build climate resilience.

“Protecting them is both an economic necessity and an environmental responsibility,” she said.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang further urged stakeholders to ensure women benefit fairly from the value they create, noting that women dominate the shea value chain from nut collection to primary processing.

She said fair pricing, innovation, regional cooperation, and sustainable production must drive the next phase of growth in the sector.

France’s Ambassador to Ghana, Diarra Dimé-Labille, described shea as a flagship sector for Ghana and the African continent.

She said the product was more than an export commodity because it provides income for many households and offers opportunities for women’s economic independence.

The ambassador announced continued French and European support for projects aimed at promoting sustainable development in the shea sector, improving incomes, and helping producers access wider markets.

She said diversification of exports and stronger partnerships with private investors would be key to long-term growth.

Leaders of the Global Shea Alliance said the organisation plans to focus on policy reforms, standards, sustainability, market research, and investment promotion over the next 15 years.

They said the shea industry had already expanded into global food and cosmetic markets, while supporting women-led processing groups in countries such as Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Togo.

Delegates at the conference are expected to hold discussions on new investments, trade opportunities, and strategies to ensure the industry creates greater wealth for producing communities rather than exporting most of its raw materials.

The conference drew ministers, business leaders, and delegates from 21 African countries, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in an industry largely centered in the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa.