The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has described the newly launched Shea Park Resource Hub in Wa as a strategic development initiative.

He said it has the potential to transform the Upper West Region and contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic growth.

Speaking at the official launch of the project in Wa, Mr Bagbin said the hub is designed to revitalise the regional economy by harnessing the area’s abundant natural and human resources and converting them into sustainable economic opportunities.

He noted that the initiative is guided by a comprehensive development blueprint titled “Revealing Potential Pathways for Socio-Economic Development, 2025 and Beyond.”

Developed through extensive consultations with experts, traditional leaders, government officials and local communities, the blueprint identifies shea as a major economic growth driver for the Upper West Region.

The strategy positions Shea as the nucleus of broader economic development, supported by allied products including dawadawa, neem, baobab, cotton, legumes, cereals, and livestock.

Mr Bagbin stressed that the initiative goes beyond symbolism. “We are not here to impress the world with an expensive launch to abandon the project. We mean business, and serious business,” he said.

He described the Shea Park Resource Hub as a collaborative effort involving government, traditional authorities, the private sector, development partners and the media.

The Speaker commended President John Dramani Mahama for his strong commitment to the project, noting that the hub aligns with the President’s flagship programmes, including the 24-hour economy, the Big Push and accelerated export development initiatives.

The hub, he explained, will operate within a 24-hour commercial framework and create employment opportunities for women, men and young people across the shea value chain—farming, tree planting, harvesting, processing and marketing.

It will particularly support women in micro, small and medium-scale shea butter processing by addressing challenges such as energy supply, access to finance, logistics and market access.

The Speaker, however, cautioned that the project’s success would depend on sustained commitment.

“If we cut the sod and go to sleep, nothing will change. There is serious work to be done, and the work starts today,” he warned.

A development architect, Professor Mark Addo, presented a motivational video outlining investment opportunities and proposing the development of a new urban and industrial setting, supported by modern infrastructure, to stimulate commercial and industrial activity in the region and Northern Ghana.

He emphasised that the transformation of the Upper West region must be linked to the broader development of Northern Ghana.

The Wa-Na, Naa Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo, expressed gratitude to the President and the Speaker for rebranding the Upper West Region through the Shea Hub Initiative, which he said would attract investment.

He also called for increased infrastructure investment at the two universities in the region.

Mr Charles Lwanga Puizuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, described the Shea Park Resource Hub as a landmark initiative to transform Ghana's shea industry.