The Karaga district like any other town in the Northern Region is blessed with abundant Shea trees but the picking, crashing and processing of Shea nuts into Shea butter remain a challenge as these jobs are largely driven by rural women who are handicapped as they lack the financial wherewithal, storage facilities and ready market to thrive.
In this regard, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, the Member of Parliament for the area has started a series of interventions aimed at eradicating the bottlenecks in the Shea butter value-chain; reduce the poverty margins especially amongst the vulnerable rural women and to make the Karaga district a hub of Shea butter production in Ghana.
The Karaga legislator announced some work have already started at the Zankali, Bagurugu and Nyong communities in the district. He stated plans are also far advanced to begin seven additional units in other parts of the area.
Dr Mohammed Amin Adam who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Energy intimated that, Shea butter products are in high demand particularly for the cosmetic industry globally and underscored the various interventions will help boost the sector, drive investment and provide employment and decent livelihood, especially, to women.
He further promised to provide credit facilities to women groups in the Karaga district to enable their effective participation in the purchase and the processing of Shea nuts into butter.
Parliament of Ghana is presently on recess and the MP has seized the opportunity to tour his constituency to interact with his constituents and inspect some ongoing projects in the area.
The lawmaker has already traveled to Tamaligu, Zankali, Bagurugu, Nyong, Pishigu, Sung, Tong and Karaga.
He is also expected to visit other communities where he is would also participate in the daily Islamic sermons for the ongoing fasting by the Muslim community.
