Nuts for Growth (N4G), a local agribusiness firm, is set to drive a new era of transformation in Ghana’s shea industry with a sustainable, inclusive blueprint that aligns with the government’s proposed 24-hour economy initiative and the upcoming ban on the export of raw shea nuts.
With the global shea butter market projected to grow by 4% in 2025 and valued at over US$2.75 billion, N4G is positioning itself to capture a larger share of this expanding sector.
The company has introduced a three-shift shea butter processing model in northern Ghana, currently employing over 450 workers, with potential to add a fourth shift as demand grows.
N4G is also preparing to launch a 150-metric-tonne-per-day soya mill by 2026, which will generate more than 300 new jobs. The facility is expected to further contribute to Ghana’s agro-industrialization efforts and promote economic growth in the northern regions.
Speaking at the Ghana Horticulture Expo 2025, where shea was highlighted as a key growth area, N4G’s founder and CEO, Mrs. Dora Haborsutei Torwiseh, described the current moment as critical for the country’s agribusiness sector.
“Our experience proves that Ghana can lead the world in sustainable agribusiness. But no single company can transform an ecosystem. We invite all stakeholders to join this movement,” she said.
Mrs. Torwiseh called for a comprehensive national shea policy that ensures year-round access to raw shea nuts through structured supply chains, improved regulation, and public-private partnerships.
According to her, such interventions are essential not only for scaling production but also for improving rural infrastructure and building climate resilience in northern communities.
Ghana is globally known for its high-quality shea butter, yet much of the industry remains artisanal, limiting the ability to meet international standards. N4G is addressing this gap by adopting solvent extraction technology to produce premium, lab-tested shea butter, capability still rare in African processing facilities.
N4G is also working to empower rural women and youth through its “Women for Change” platform, which has mobilized 81,000 participants across 270 cooperatives in northern Ghana.
The platform trains participants on a blockchain-based traceability system, essential for compliance with the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation. Beyond shea, the platform also supports literacy, vocational training, water access, healthcare, and will soon introduce micro-poultry farming.
Despite these promising initiatives, challenges persist. The shea sector remains largely unregulated, leaving many rural pickers vulnerable to exploitation by middlemen who offer low prices. Although the Tree Crop Development Authority recently set the price of shea nuts at GH¢9.01 per kilogram, many argue this is still not enough to provide a decent income for producers.
The insolvency of PBC Shea Limited, a subsidiary of the Produce Buying Company (PBC), has worsened the situation by removing a key buyer from the supply chain. PBC Shea was previously responsible for directly purchasing shea nuts from pickers and supporting value-added processing.
Nonetheless, N4G’s strategy remains aligned with Ghana’s broader industrial development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The company is committed to promoting circularity and environmental sustainability by recycling 95% of its water and converting all shea nut waste and 40 metric tonnes of shea cake into steam through a biomass boiler. The resulting boiler ash is turned into potash fertilizer.
Research is also underway to convert shea and soya cake into poultry feed for both local use and export, with a target of reaching 40% export share.
This initiative will help strengthen Ghana’s food systems and enhance the country’s competitiveness in agricultural value chains.
