Savannah Agri-Chains Ltd is expanding the commercial use of baobab trees in northern Ghana, producing certified organic powder and oil from a resource that grows naturally in the Upper East Region.
The company, based in the Upper East, harvests baobab fruit from naturally occurring trees and processes it into organic baobab powder and oil, according to Joshua Ayelah, who represented the company at the “This Ghana” exhibition organised by Citi FM and Channel One TV at Efua Sutherland Park.
The company is certified by ECOCERT for its organic products, which also include shea butter, Ayelah said. Savannah Agri-Chains sells its baobab powder for 60 cedis per kilogram and 120 cedis for two kilograms, while its baobab oil costs 120 cedis per litre and 60 cedis for half a litre.
“We are based in the upper east, so we have lots of baobab trees in the area,” Ayelah said. “Naturally the baobab trees grow well in the upper east region, and we leverage that and harvest and do our processes.”
The company is also planting baobab seedlings as it seeks to develop a more deliberate supply base. Ayelah said one of the trees planted in one of the company’s gardens began fruiting after five years, suggesting a shorter production cycle than the company associates with traditional baobab trees.
“Five years ago it started fruiting. So, minimum five years, it should start fruiting if you take care of it,” he said.
The company processes the baobab fruit without adding ingredients to the powder. After the fruit is cracked and removed from its shell, it is pounded, sieved and packaged, according to Ayelah.
The oil is similarly marketed as a naturally produced, unrefined product. Ayelah said the company uses it for hair and skin care and that it can also be used in cooking.
Beyond baobab, Savannah Agri-Chains works across several agricultural products in northern Ghana, including organic shea butter, honey, white sorghum, habanero pepper and rice.
The company’s model reflects an effort to move beyond the sale of agricultural commodities by processing locally available resources into finished products. Its baobab operations rely on the natural abundance of the trees in the Upper East, while the company’s planting programme could provide an additional source of fruit over time.
Baobab powder is also marketed by the company for its nutritional properties, with Ayelah highlighting its vitamin C and fibre content.
The company’s broader agricultural activities span communities in northern Ghana, with Savannah Agri-Chains sourcing or supplying products including sorghum, pepper and rice alongside its processed baobab and shea products.
For Savannah Agri-Chains, the commercial opportunity lies in combining a naturally abundant northern resource with processing and organic certification, allowing baobab to be sold as a packaged value-added product rather than simply harvested as a raw agricultural resource.
