The Northern Zonal Directorate of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for shea nut pickers in the Savannah Region, aimed at improving production quality, enhancing incomes, and strengthening Ghana’s competitiveness in the international shea market.
The training of trainers workshop, held in Salaga in the East Gonja Municipality, brought together 30 women from Kalanda, Minpersam, Massaka, and Salaga township, among other communities. Participants were trained in best practices for harvesting, handling, and storing shea nuts to meet international market standards.
A similar programme was held in Walewale in the North East Region, where another group of 30 women received training designed to enable them to return to their communities and share knowledge with other shea pickers.
Seidu Saaka Bakari, GEPA’s Zonal Director for the Northern, North East, and Savannah Regions, said the initiative reflects GEPA’s commitment to empowering rural women while ensuring the country benefits fully from one of its key export commodities.
“Shea is in high demand globally for use in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. It remains a major source of livelihood for thousands of rural women across northern Ghana,” he noted.
“Yet, while Ghana is among the world’s top producers, there is still a gap between our production potential and the benefits we derive as a nation. You, our shea pickers, and the foundation of this value chain, without your dedication, there would be no shea industry.”
Bakari emphasized that improving harvesting and storage practices is crucial, as poor handling reduces product quality and market value, directly affecting incomes.
He assured participants of GEPA’s commitment to equipping them with knowledge, market linkages, and entrepreneurial skills to help transform the shea sector into a globally competitive industry recognized for quality, sustainability, and traceability.
“As you participate actively in this training, I encourage you to see yourselves as entrepreneurs, not just pickers. Shea is your business, and like any business, it deserves attention to detail, commitment to quality, and a vision for growth,” he added.
He also commended GEPA Chief Executive Officer Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, stakeholders, private sector actors, and the women pickers for their dedication to the industry’s growth.
Alhassan Sumaila Dubie, Shea Value Chain Specialist at the Crop Development Authority and facilitator of the training, sensitized participants on protocols for quality shea nut production and urged them to treat shea picking as a serious business.
“Business requires investment of time, energy, and money to get the needed returns. As farmers, you must spend on quality seeds and tools to ensure better harvests and profitability,” he advised.
He encouraged the women to take shea farming more seriously in their communities to attract investor confidence and stakeholder support.
For many of the participants, the training was timely. Madam Zenabu Iddrisu from the Massaka community, speaking on behalf of her colleagues, thanked GEPA for equipping them with practical skills and pledged to use the knowledge to increase production and boost incomes in their communities.
By building the capacity of grassroots women in the shea value chain, GEPA hopes to unlock more opportunities for rural livelihoods while positioning Ghana as a global leader in sustainable shea exports.
