Participants at the second national multi-stakeholder forum on shea nuts have called for a Shea Board alongside COCOBOD to spearhead the formulation of policies and laws to enhance the efficient operations of the shea sector. The Board, they said, would ensure transparent consultation among government, traditional authorities and the entire people of Northern Ghana regarding takeover of large tracts of agricultural land by multi-national agricultural companies. Additionally, it would ensure appropriate taxation of shea exports, which according to the stakeholders, could raise revenue for the government through its interventions in the sub-sector. This was contained in a communiqué issued and jointly signed by Ms. Rose Tanzile, Coordinator, Shea Network Secretariat - Tamale, and Mr. Eugene Yirbuor, Shea Network Secretariat, Send-Ghana, Wa, at the weekend. The communiqué stated that 95 percent of households depended on shea for sustenance and the setting up of a Board to efficiently manage the industry could lead to adequate funding for shea research and development. It further recommended that the government, as part of its policy to promote local content in industrial activities, should encourage the use of shea products in the local cosmetic, pharmaceutical and hospitality industries. The communiqué also called on the government, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and the three regional houses of Chiefs in Northern Ghana to come out with comprehensive bye-laws to protect the shea parklands from destruction. In addition, the communiqué called on the media to highlight the importance of shea to the national economy in general and Northern Ghana in specific. It said stakeholders would continue to use this annual platform to coordinate their activities and find a common ground for resolving the challenges confronting the shea sub-sector. This, it stated, would fully harness the great potential of the shea industry for wealth creation and for growth, especially in the Northern part of the country. It further resolved to constructively back government in its efforts towards developing the shea value chain. Source: GNA