By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy
Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang formally inaugurated the SHEA 2026 Conference in Accra on Tuesday 28th April, 2026, issuing a clarion call for Africa to transcend raw commodity exports and seize the commanding heights of value-added production in the global shea economy.
Hosted by the Global Shea Alliance with strategic support from the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat, the landmark gathering convened stakeholders from 21 African nations and international partners, celebrating more than 15 years of transformative collaboration across the continent.
Since its establishment by then-Vice President John Dramani Mahama in 2011, the Global Shea Alliance has burgeoned into a formidable force driving innovation, sustainability, and market expansion within the sector.
“Since its inauguration, the Alliance has grown remarkably,” Vice President Opoku-Agyemang declared. “Today’s assembly of nations is testament to a shared resolve: to reposition shea as a driver of industrial growth and inclusive prosperity.”
The Vice President underscored the imperative to pivot from exporting unprocessed shea nuts to capturing greater value through domestic processing, branding, and innovation — a move firmly aligned with Government’s Reset Agenda for industrialization.
“The engagement highlighted the urgent need to move beyond the export of raw materials to value-added production,” she affirmed. “As global demand for shea continues to soar, Ghana must position itself to capture greater value through processing, innovation, and expanded market access.”
In Ghana, the shea industry remains a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of women whose toil sustains households and fortifies the national economy. The Vice President stressed that equitable benefit-sharing is non-negotiable.
“As we celebrate the progress made, we must also look ahead and ensure that the benefits of this growing industry are equitably shared, particularly by the women who form its backbone,” she stated.
Opoku-Agyemang spotlighted the 24-Hour Economy policy as a linchpin for unlocking productivity, generating decent jobs, and fortifying value chains across the shea ecosystem.
“The 24-hour economy policy will play a key role in boosting productivity, creating jobs, and strengthening value chains within the sector,” she noted, linking round-the-clock production to Ghana’s broader export acceleration drive.
Long-term viability, she cautioned, hinges on environmental stewardship. “Long-term sustainability will depend on protecting shea parklands, improving soil fertility, and supporting farmers across the savannah ecological zones,” the Vice President asserted.
Expressing unwavering confidence in the deliberations ahead, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang said she was convinced that SHEA 2026 would yield “practical solutions and renewed partnerships to drive the next phase of growth.”
She added: “These outcomes will contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s economic transformation and Africa’s broader development agenda.”
The conference continues this week with technical sessions on processing technology, climate-smart agroforestry, and financing mechanisms for women-led cooperatives.