President John Dramani Mahama has donated 20,000 sets of protective equipment (PPEs) to women shea nut collectors in northern Ghana, in a move hailed as both humanitarian and strategic for the billion-dollar sector.
The donation comprising boots, gloves and durable clothing was unveiled at the World Shea Expo 2025 in Tamale by Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, on behalf of the president. This, according to officials, could double nut recovery rates to 80 percent by making collection safer and more efficient, while boosting supply for processors and exports.
Apart from the PPE, government, through the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has set the minimum price for 1kg of raw shea nuts at GHC9.01, effective 1 July 2025.
This forms part of measures put in place by the authority to enhance sustainability, protect local producers and ensure international competitiveness within Ghana’s shea sector.
One bowl (olonka) equals 2.3kg, which with the new price costs about GHC20.70. A bag of 85kg will sell at about GHC765.63. The price is pegged with some quality specifications including moisture content between 8 to 10 percent, free fatty acids between 6 to 8 percent and impurities ranging from 2 to 4 percent.
A devastating windstorm earlier this year slashed flowering, prompting large-scale exporters to stockpile raw nuts, squeeze supplies and fuel speculation with middlemen.
The scarcity drove prices sharply upward, with a bowl of nuts (2.3kg) selling between GHC20 and GHC25 in Tamale and as high as GH¢40 in Navrongo and Bolgatanga.
In response, the TCDA introduced its fixed pricing regime.
Strict enforcement of these prices is expected to curb exploitation by large-scale exporters and middlemen, while also preventing speculative, rumour-driven price hikes.
Government has also initiated engagements with industry stakeholders on measures to ensure a consistent supply of quality nuts to feed local processors throughout the year, with a potential ban on the export of raw shea nuts under consideration.
All these measures form part of President Mahama’s broader agenda of positioning Ghana to capture a greater share of the global shea market, which is projected to reach US$5.4billion by 2034.
Meanwhile, by prioritising the safety of women – who make up 90 percent of the shea labour force – government hopes to stabilise supply for factories such as the revived Buipe plant and advance its 24-hour economy agenda.
“This is not just about protection; it is also about securing the future of our shea industry,” noted Ms. Bampoe Addo, who spoke on the president’s behalf at the expo.
World Shea Expo 2025
The World Shea Expo 2025, held from 2 to 4 September 2025 in Tamale, brought together key stakeholders to highlight major policy ambitions, new industrial projects and international trade opportunities within the shea sector.
The event was organised by Savannah Golden Tree Limited in partnership with a coalition of institutions including the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA); Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA); EXIM Bank; Ghana Enterprises Agency; COCOBOD; Tree Crop Development Authority; COCOSHE; the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE); the Northern Regional Coordinating Council; the Northern Development Authority; and the West African Centre for Shea Innovation Research at the University for Development Studies (UDS).
