We attended the just-ended World Shea Expo 2025 in Tamale, where government leaders, financial institutions and private-sector stakeholders outlined a coordinated plan to scale production, deepen processing, and capture more value locally. South West Six attended the Expo to engage with partners and to advance our commitment to value-added exports such as shea butter and African black soap.
Policy shifts and the shea butter industry
The Expo opened with remarks from Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff, emphasizing the government’s industrialization priorities. In a keynote, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director for Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, announced an ambitious policy target: Ghana will triple shea nut production and lift the sector toward $640 million under the 24-Hour Economy framework. This announcement signals a deliberate move to shift the region away from raw-nut exports and toward domestic processing and higher-value shea products.
These policy actions align with a broader West African trend toward value addition—seen recently in other countries’ measures to incentivize local processing—and reflect a recognition that economic development and job creation depend on keeping more of the value chain inside producing countries.
Institutional support and market readiness
A key takeaway from the Expo was the active institutional backing for the sector. Ghana EXIM Bank and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) publicly reiterated support for producers and processors through financing windows, training programs, and market access initiatives. Such interventions are critical: they help cooperatives meet international quality standards, secure working capital for processing facilities, and connect Ghanaian suppliers with global buyers.
International analysis also highlights shea’s social and economic importance. UNCTAD has documented how the shea sector supports millions of women across Africa and presents an avenue for inclusive growth. (See UNCTAD’s overview on shea industry development.) These perspectives were evident at the Expo’s panels on standards, traceability, and export readiness.
Demand dynamics: why buyers are watching Ghana
Global demand for shea butter remains strong across cosmetics, haircare, pharmaceuticals, and food ingredients because of shea’s moisturizing and therapeutic properties. At the Expo, manufacturers and brand buyers stressed two priorities: consistent quality and transparent sourcing. For Ghanaian exporters, meeting those priorities requires investment in processing capacity, laboratory testing, and traceability systems.
For buyers and retailers, sourcing from Ghana offers reliable supply if processors can scale responsibly. South West Six’s participation reinforced our message: we aim to supply quality, traceable shea butter while ensuring that more of the economic benefit remains with local communities.
South West Six: commitment to value addition
At South West Six we see the Expo’s outcomes as both an obligation and an opportunity. Our work focuses on converting raw materials into finished, export-ready shea butter and complementary products such as African black soap. By investing in processing, quality assurance, and cooperative partnerships, we help ensure that producers—and especially women collectors—earn fair returns and develop sustainable livelihoods.
If your business is seeking a consistent, ethically sourced shea butter partner, we invite you to contact us to discuss supply, specifications, or private-label options.
What the Expo means for the sector’s next steps
The World Shea Expo 2025 framed a clear pathway:
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Scale production: Achieve the production targets outlined under the 24-Hour Economy policy through improved cultivation, harvesting, and aggregation.
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Deepen processing: Expand local refining capacity so more shea is exported as butter or finished ingredients rather than raw nuts.
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Strengthen finance and markets: Leverage support from Ghana EXIM Bank, GEPA and private financiers to fund processing facilities and supply-chain upgrades.
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Improve standards and traceability: Adopt testing, certification, and traceability practices to meet international buyer requirements.
These coordinated actions will help stabilize supply, improve product quality, and position Ghana as a reliable source of responsibly produced shea butter.
Final thoughts
The World Shea Expo reaffirmed a central message: the future of the shea butter industry in Ghana is not only about production volume but about creating sustainable, value-added pathways that support rural livelihoods and meet global market expectations. South West Six is committed to playing a constructive role in this transition—working with cooperatives, financiers, and buyers to deliver quality shea products that reflect Ghana’s potential.
For more background on recent trends, including pricing pressures and policy impacts, see our earlier analysis on the rising cost of shea butter.
