Dr Andy Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), has urged stronger collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard and transform Ghana’s shea industry into a multi-billion-dollar economic powerhouse.

Delivering his closing remarks at the 2025 World Shea Expo in Tamale, Dr Okrah underlined the need for synergies between government agencies, development partners, value chain actors, researchers and traditional authorities.

He said such partnerships were crucial to address challenges such as rampant bushfires and the indiscriminate felling of shea trees.

“With the right regulations, licensing and policy frameworks, we can unlock the full potential of the shea industry,” he stated. “We can also position it as one of the pillars of Ghana’s economy.”

The shea sector is one of six strategic tree crops under the TCDA.

The 2025 edition was held under the theme: “Empowering Women and Youth-led SMEs in the Shea Value Chain: The Role of Government and Financial Institutions.”

Dr Okrah said shea had massive potential to generate billions of dollars annually through value addition, innovation and industrialisation.

He explained that the TCDA’s Shea Sector Plan aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda.

The agenda prioritises production, processing and job creation.

Dr Okrah urged traditional leaders, private investors, farmer groups and value chain actors to join hands with the Authority.

He said the goal was to build a sustainable shea industry by 2030.

The plan, he said, sought to create jobs, empower women and expand opportunities for youth.

These opportunities would particularly benefit the northern regions.

“As part of our strategy, we are collaborating with the National Service Authority to encourage young people to venture into shea cultivation,” he said.

“By planting more trees and boosting productivity, we can secure the future of the shea industry.”

Dr Okrah announced that the TCDA was working with other government agencies to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), tricycles and logistical support.

These, he said, were to ease the burden on women who dominated nut-picking activities within the shea value chain.

“To sustain the shea sector, we need innovation,” he added.

He urged researchers and academia to partner with the Authority in developing climate-resilient shea varieties. Such varieties should be able to bear fruit within shorter cycles.

The TCDA was established under Act 1010 of 2019 with the mandate to regulate and develop six priority tree crops: cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber and oil palm.

Its role includes promoting research, enforcing regulations, facilitating marketing and coordinating stakeholder activities to ensure long-term productivity and sustainability.

It also oversees compliance with export policies, requiring permits for the export of unprocessed tree crops.

This is to encourage value addition locally and retain raw materials for domestic industries.

Shea butter, extracted from the nuts of the Vitellaria paradoxa tree, is widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and the food industry.

It is valued for its moisturising and healing properties and forms an important export commodity for Ghana.

The shea industry supports the livelihoods of about 500,000 households in Ghana, with nearly 900,000 women engaged in nut-picking and processing.

Globally, the shea trade continues to expand, with Ghana ranking among the top producers and exporters.

Dr Okrah commended the organisers and development partners for successfully hosting the Expo.

He reaffirmed TCDA’s commitment to streamlining regulations, strengthening partnerships and driving value addition in the shea industry.

According to him, these steps will make the sector a key contributor to Ghana’s economic transformation.