The Ghana Shea Employers Association (GSEA) is urgently calling on the government to step in and rescue the Ghana shea industry from total collapse.

During a press briefing in Tamale, members of the Association raised serious concerns about the worsening state of the sector. They stressed its economic value and the vital role it plays in supporting rural livelihoods, especially for women.

Faizatu Abdul Majeed, a private member of the GSEA, said women form about 90% of the shea workforce. She described the shea tree as a national treasure that has sustained families for generations.

“There is an urgent need to protect these trees. They support many lives in rural areas,” she said.

Ms. Abdul Majeed criticized the unregulated export of raw shea nuts. She said this practice is harming both the economy and the environment. Ghana, she explained, loses up to 300% of potential value by exporting raw shea instead of processing it into products like shea butter.

“The current harvesting methods are causing deforestation, poor soil health, and loss of biodiversity. If this continues, we could face long-term ecological damage,” she warned.

She called on the government to ban raw shea nut exports and align its policies with those of Burkina Faso, Benin, and Nigeria. These countries already limit raw shea exports to protect their local industries.

“We must stop illegal harvesting and start replanting trees. That’s the only way to secure our shea industry for the future,” she added.

Hajia Rabiatu Abukari, the President of GSEA, also shared her concern. She noted that high prices in 2024 made shea nuts unaffordable for many women processors. This, she said, has deepened their economic struggles.

“In 2024, we barely found shea nuts. Prices were too high. We don’t want aggregators to stop buying, but they should sell to us so we can process for local and export markets,” she explained.

The Association continues to push for bold reforms that will revive the Ghana shea industry and protect the environment.