The Ghana Shea Employers Association (GSEA) has lauded government for what it calls “timely and strategic” interventions aimed at strengthening and repositioning the country’s shea industry.
Key among the measures is the introduction of a regulated minimum producer price of GH¢9.01 per kilogram of shea nuts by the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA). The association also welcomed the planned ban on raw shea exports by 2026 and the upcoming 2nd World Shea Expo, slated for September 2-4, 2025, in Tamale.
“These interventions provide a strong policy foundation for strengthening domestic processing capacity and positioning Ghana as a global leader in high-value shea exports,” the association said in a statement, adding that the reforms protect producers’ interests while catalyzing industrialization.
However, GSEA stressed that structural financing barriers continue to constrain businesses and cooperatives across the shea value chain.
“Many local businesses continue to face structural barriers such as high interest rates, collateral demands, limited working capital for procurement and insufficient investment financing for processing equipment, certification and market expansion,” the association noted.
According to the group, without tailored financial support, enterprises risk being unable to fully respond to minimum pricing regulations, take advantage of export opportunities, or meet growing global demand.
The GSEA therefore urged government and its partners to “consider the unique financing needs of actors in the shea sector under the Guarantee Scheme supported by the Development Bank Ghana (DBG).”
The association argued that improving access to affordable and flexible credit particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and women-led cooperatives would sustain operations, unlock growth potential, and support job creation across the country.
