The President of the Ghana Shea Employers Association in the Northern Region, Hajia Rabiatu Abukari, has called on the government to establish local facilities for testing and certifying organic shea products to reduce costs and delays for Ghanaian businesses.
Hajia Abukari, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Maltiti A. Enterprise Limited, said local processors were compelled to send samples abroad for testing before obtaining organic certification, increasing their operational expenses.
Speaking to the media, she urged the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry and the Ghana Standards Authority to invest in the equipment and expertise needed to conduct the tests locally.
She also raised concerns about the export of raw shea nuts, warning that bulk purchases by foreign buyers were leaving local processors, particularly women-led businesses, struggling to secure enough raw materials.
She called for policies to promote local processing and the export of shea butter and other finished products to create jobs and retain more value within Ghana’s economy.
Hajia Abukari further warned that the destruction of shea trees through charcoal production, indiscriminate felling and bushfires threatened the industry’s long-term sustainability.
She urged the Tree Crops Development Authority, Forestry Commission, local assemblies and traditional authorities to strengthen conservation efforts and support shea tree regeneration.
She said protecting shea trees, improving access to raw materials and investing in local processing were essential to safeguarding livelihoods and strengthening Ghana’s shea industry.
