Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, is today playing host to one of the most significant international gatherings in the agricultural calendar—the World Shea Expo 2025.
Beginning today, September 2, and running until September 4 at the Modern City Hotel, the expo has drawn global attention to Ghana’s growing role in the multi-billion-dollar shea industry.
The event officially opens under the distinguished patronage of President John Mahama, whose presence underscores government’s commitment to transforming shea from a subsistence crop into a cornerstone of national economic growth.
For three days, Tamale will not only be a meeting ground for stakeholders but also the epicentre of bold conversations on trade, sustainability, innovation and empowerment within the shea value chain.
The event will be officially opened by President John Mahama
With more than 8,000 participants expected—including producers, investors, global buyers, policy-makers and development partners—the World Shea Expo 2025 is set to redefine the country’s place on the global shea map.
Why it matters
The World Shea Expo 2025 is more than a meeting of minds—it is a strategic platform designed to reshape the future of Ghana’s shea industry. For years, shea has remained a silent contributor to rural livelihoods, often overshadowed by cocoa and other cash crops. Today, however, the expo signals a turning point, elevating shea into the national and international spotlight as a commodity of immense economic and social value.
Organised by Savannah Golden Tree Ltd., in collaboration with a powerful coalition of partners—including the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), EXIM Bank, COCOBOD, COCOSHE, the Northern Regional Coordination Council, Northern Development Authority and the West African Centre for Shea Innovation Research (UDS)—the event carries the weight of both state and institutional backing.
This year’s theme, ‘Empowering women and youth-led SMEs: The role of government and financial institutions’, reflects a deliberate focus on inclusive growth. Women and youth are not only the backbone of the shea value chain but also represent the untapped potential that can move the industry from subsistence to prosperity.
By anchoring discussions on empowerment, finance and sustainability, the expo sets out to ensure that shea is not just profitable globally, but transformative locally.
Government commitment & policy agenda
At the heart of this expo lies a clear message from government: shea is no longer a peripheral crop—it is a pillar of national transformation. Over the past decade, shea has gradually shifted from being seen as a women’s subsistence activity to becoming a strategic commodity with global relevance. The World Shea Expo 2025 serves as a formal declaration of this new vision.
Speaking ahead of the event, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering support for the sector.
“Through strategic investments, policy support and empowerment of local actors—particularly women—we are positioning shea as a key pillar of our agricultural and industrial agenda,” he said. “The shea sector has immense potential, and our vision is to fully harness it by integrating it into the broader framework of national development.”
Central to this commitment is the government’s flagship 24-hour economy policy, an ambitious blueprint that seeks to maximise productivity across all sectors. For shea, this means creating an environment where processing plants, cooperatives and export facilities can operate round the clock, boosting efficiency and increasing Ghana’s share of the global market.
By aligning the expo with the broader 24-hour economy agenda, the government is not only promoting shea as an agricultural product but also tying it for industrialisation, job creation and rural economic empowerment. This policy link ensures that the conversations and partnerships forged in Tamale will resonate beyond the conference hall, shaping national development goals for years to come.
Women, youth, and shea’s untapped potential
If there is one truth the expo highlights, it is that shea is women’s gold. Across the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, over one million women rely on shea for their livelihoods.
They form about 90 percent of the labour force in the value chain—spending long hours gathering nuts, drying, processing and producing butter that sustains households. Yet, despite this tireless work, they capture only a fraction of the wealth that the industry generates globally.
Currently, Ghana exports more than 70,000 tonnes of shea annually, earning about US$112.6million in foreign exchange. But here lies the challenge: most of these exports leave the country in raw, unprocessed form. The real value—refining, branding and distribution—is captured abroad by multinational corporations. In effect, Ghana provides the raw material while others pocket the profits.
Meanwhile, the global shea industry is booming. Valued at over US$2billion, demand for shea butter continues to surge in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food processing, from luxury skincare lines in Europe to premium chocolate brands in North America and Asia.
For Ghana, this presents a unique opportunity: move beyond being a supplier of raw nuts and claim a bigger share of the value chain. With the right investments in modern processing facilities, cooperative strengthening and international partnerships, shea could become a powerful driver of job creation, youth entrepreneurship and rural industrialisation.
For women and young people, the expo is a chance to move from the margins to the mainstream of global trade. By ensuring they gain access to finance, training and markets, the shea industry could evolve from being a survival mechanism into a platform of prosperity.
What to expect over three days
The World Shea Expo 2025 has been carefully designed to go beyond speeches and exhibitions—it is a working agenda that blends policy, trade, empowerment and innovation into a three-day journey. Each day builds on the other, ensuring participants leave with not only ideas but actionable opportunities.
Day 1 – September 2, 2025
The expo begins today with a grand Opening Ceremony, led by President John Mahama. His keynote address is expected to reaffirm government’s commitment to transforming shea into a pillar of national growth.
A vibrant Shea Trade Fair will showcase products from Ghanaian cooperatives, processors and entrepreneurs, connecting them directly with international buyers and investors. The day will also feature a powerful Women in Shea Panel, where inspiring stories from female-led cooperatives will shine a light on the grassroots leaders driving the industry forward.
Day 2 – September 3, 2025
The focus shifts to money, markets and innovation. A high-level Investors Forum will bring financiers and agribusiness entrepreneurs together to explore capital opportunities for scaling up processing and exports.
Meanwhile, a Youth Entrepreneurship Workshop will provide skills training for young innovators, covering everything from processing technologies to product diversification and market entry strategies.
The day will conclude with a Sustainability Showcase, presenting cutting-edge approaches to climate-smart shea production and agroforestry—ensuring growth is not only profitable but environmentally responsible.
Day 3 – September 4, 2025
The final day brings the policy-makers and private sector to the table in a Policy Dialogue, where strategies for long-term industry growth will be shaped. This will be followed by an Awards Ceremony recognising outstanding producers, exporters and innovators in the shea value chain. The expo will close with Field Visits to shea processing centres across Northern Ghana, giving participants a direct, hands-on experience of the sector’s challenges and opportunities.
Organisers expect the event to deliver tangible outcomes: more than 150 business-to-business partnerships, training for over 200 SMEs, and actionable policy recommendations that can guide the sector’s growth long after the closing ceremony.
The global significance of shea
Beyond its local and national importance, shea is a global commodity with far-reaching economic, cultural and environmental value.
The cosmetic industry, in particular, relies heavily on shea butter as a natural moisturiser and essential ingredient in skincare and haircare products. Likewise, the food industry increasingly turns to shea as a healthier, sustainable alternative to other oils in confectionery and cooking. With demand for natural, organic and ethically sourced products rising worldwide, shea has moved from being a traditional resource to a strategic global product.
What makes shea exceptional is that its value extends beyond profits. Shea trees are environmental guardians, playing a crucial role in the fight against desertification and climate change by protecting soil, retaining water and providing a carbon sink across the savannah belt. By strengthening the shea industry, Ghana and its global partners are also making an investment in environmental sustainability.
Culturally, shea tells a story of resilience, community and tradition. For centuries, it has been an integral part of local diets, medicine and rituals. Today, that heritage is being repurposed for modern markets, giving the world a product with authenticity and history at its core.
The World Shea Expo 2025, therefore, is not just about trade—it is about reaffirming shea’s role as a global connector: linking rural communities with international industries, traditional knowledge with modern science and local development with global sustainability.
The legacy of the expo
As Tamale prepares to host the World Shea Expo 2025, the excitement extends far beyond the three-day gathering. This event is expected to leave a lasting legacy for Ghana, Africa and the global shea industry.
For Ghana, the expo represents a milestone in its ambition to become a hub of value-added shea production. By showcasing innovations, investment opportunities and research, the event will help chart a path from raw material exports to processing, branding and global competitiveness. The ripple effect will be seen in job creation, foreign exchange earnings and rural empowerment.
For Africa, the expo is a continental statement of unity and purpose. With 21 African countries contributing to the global shea belt, collaboration at the expo can set the stage for stronger partnerships, harmonised standards and collective bargaining power in international markets. This vision positions Africa not just as a supplier, but as a strategic leader in the global shea economy.
Globally, the expo signals a commitment to sustainability, equity and innovation. By centring women, smallholder farmers and environmentally conscious practices, it reflects a future where trade and tradition reinforce one another. For industries and consumers worldwide, the expo offers a chance to align with a supply chain that is not only profitable but also ethical and resilient.