Africa-Press – Ghana. The Northern Zonal Directorate of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has held a two-day capacity-building workshop for shea nut pickers in the
Savannah Region to improve production quality, enhance incomes, and strengthen Ghana’s position in the international shea market.
The training of trainers workshop, held in Salaga in the East Gonja Municipality, brought together about 30 women from Kalanda, Minpersam, Massaka, and Salaga township, among other communities.
It was aimed at equipping participants with best practices in harvesting, handling, and storage of shea nuts to meet global market standards.
A similar two-day training of trainers workshop was also held by GEPA for 30 shea nuts pickers at Walewale in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region to equip them to train other women in their communities.
Mr Seidu Saaka Bakari, GEPA Zonal Director in-charge of Northern, North East, and Savannah Regions, speaking during the training, said the initiative reflected GEPA’s commitment to empowering rural women and ensuring the country derived maximum benefits from one of her most promising natural resources.
He said shea was in high demand globally for use in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals, and continued to serve as a major source of livelihood for thousands of rural women across northern Ghana.
He said, “The shea industry holds immense potential for Ghana. Yet, while Ghana is among the world’s top shea producing countries, there remains a gap between our production potential and the actual benefits we derive as a nation. You, our shea pickers, are the foundation of the value chain. Without your dedication, there would be no shea industry.”
Mr Bakari emphasized that improving harvesting and storage practices was crucial since poor handling of nuts reduced their value and affected producers’ incomes.
He assured participants of GEPA’s commitment to equipping them with the right knowledge and linkages to help transform the shea sector into a globally competitive industry known for quality, sustainability, and traceability.
He said the programme also sought to build women’s confidence and entrepreneurial outlook, adding “As you participate actively in this training, I encourage you to see yourselves as entrepreneurs and not just pickers. Shea is your business, and like any business, it deserves attention to detail, commitment to quality, and a vision for growth.”
He commended Mr Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, as well as other stakeholders, private sector actors, and the pickers for their dedication to the development of the shea industry.
He said, “Let us continue to work together to unlock the full potential of the shea industry. With determination, knowledge, and collaboration, we can transform this sector into a true driver of Ghana’s export growth and rural prosperity.”
Mr Alhassan Sumaila Dubie, Shea Value Chain Specialist at Crop Development Authority and facilitator of the training, sensitised participants on shea farming as a business, protocols for quality shea nut production, and key quality parameters.
He advised them to view shea farming and picking as a serious business that required investment saying “Business requires investment of time, energy, and money in order to get the needed returns. As farmers, you have to spend money on quality seeds and tools to ensure bumper harvest and profitability.”
He encouraged participants to take the business of shea picking more seriously in their communities to attract investment and support from stakeholders.
Madam Zenabu Iddrisu, a participant from Massaka community, speaking on behalf of her colleagues, commended GEPA for equipping them with new skills and pledged to leverage the training to increase production and profitability in their communities.
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