The Ghana Shea Cooperatives & Processors Network (GSCP-Net) has called on the government to impose a ban on the exportation of raw shea nuts in the country.
In a petition presented to the Northern Regional Minister on Wednesday, May 7, the Network argued that the ban is necessary to protect jobs and develop the local shea industry, with the goal of transforming the lives of women and youth employed in the sector.
“When raw nuts are shipped out, we lose jobs. We lose income. We lose the opportunity to build local industry and transform the lives of women and youth who work tirelessly in this sector,” the petition stated.
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They noted that the shea industry is the “women’s gold” and a lifeline for thousands of women across Northern Ghana, hence the need for the government to listen and act decisively to safeguard “the heartbeat of rural Ghana.”
“The shea nut is more than a product. It is “women’s gold,” a lifeline for thousands of hardworking women across the north. And yet, year after year, we watch as raw shea nuts are exported in bulk, draining the true value and denying our people the benefits that should remain in Ghana,” a copy of the petition cited by Xtrememedia said.
“Local entrepreneurs have invested in modern shea processing plants. Women’s groups are ready to scale. The demand is there, the capacity is building—what we need now is policy,” it added.
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Beyond the ban, the network also called on the government to support local processors with access to affordable financing and invest in modern shea nuts across producing districts.
