A three-day strategic joint review forum on the Shea Sector Collective Bargaining Agreement has opened in Tamale, with stakeholders emphasizing its potential to strengthen the economic performance of Ghana’s shea industry.
The forum is expected to enhance labour relations, improve productivity and create fair working conditions for thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on the shea value chain.
Organized by the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in collaboration with the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), the meeting brought together stakeholders from government, labour unions, employers and civil society organizations.
Participants included representatives from the Department of Labour, the GEA, the TUC, GAWU and other partners working to improve labour standards and productivity within the shea sector.
The initiative is being supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme with funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
Speaking at the opening of the forum, Madam Silje Vevatne, Counsellor at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ghana, said strengthening social dialogue and labour cooperation within key sectors such as shea could help promote inclusive economic growth.
She commended the ILO and its partners for supporting initiatives aimed at improving labour systems while encouraging productivity and sustainable development in Ghana’s agricultural sectors.
“We are very proud and encouraged by the progress achieved under this programme,” she said.
Madam Vevatne noted that progress made under the programme included the drafting of a new labour bill, the establishment of sectoral associations and collaborative policy engagements aimed at supporting economic growth while ensuring decent working conditions.
She said the development of a collective bargaining agreement in the shea sector marked an important milestone that could strengthen labour relations and enhance the long-term sustainability of the industry.
She expressed confidence that discussions during the review would produce outcomes that would strengthen the agreement and improve productivity across the shea value chain.
Mr Wumbei Abukari, Northern Regional Industrial Relations Officer of GAWU-TUC, said improving labour standards in the shea sector could have far-reaching economic benefits, given the large number of workers and enterprises involved in the industry.
He explained that many actors in the shea value chain operate within the informal sector and depend on the industry as a major source of livelihood.
According to him, strengthening the collective bargaining framework would help ensure fair working conditions while promoting efficiency and stability within the sector.
“With so many workers depending on this space, its impact can help build better and fairer work,” he said.
Mr Abukari expressed appreciation to partners who had contributed to the development and review of the agreement and emphasised the need to translate commitments into practical measures that would benefit workers, businesses and communities connected to the shea industry.
The review workshop is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to assess existing provisions in the agreement, identify gaps and propose improvements that would strengthen labour protections while supporting productivity and economic growth in the shea sector.
