Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has officially opened the SHEA 2026 conference, hosted by the Global Shea Alliance with support from the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat.

The conference brought together participants from 21 African countries and international partners, marking over 15 years of collaboration in advancing the shea industry since the Alliance was inaugurated in 2011 by President John Dramani Mahama.

In her address, the Vice President underscored the need for Ghana and other African countries to move beyond the export of raw shea products toward value-added processing, in line with the government’s Reset Agenda aimed at driving industrial growth.

She noted that the shea sector remains a critical source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of women in Ghana, whose contributions sustain households and significantly support the national economy.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the growing global demand for shea and stressed the importance of positioning Ghana to capture greater value through innovation, processing and improved market access.

She further indicated that the government’s 24-hour economy policy would play a key role in boosting productivity, creating jobs and strengthening value chains within the industry.

The Vice President also emphasised the need for sustainable practices, including the protection of shea parklands, improvement of soil fertility and support for farmers across the savannah ecological zones.

She expressed optimism that deliberations at SHEA 2026 would yield practical solutions and foster stronger partnerships to drive the next phase of growth in the sector, contributing to Ghana’s economic transformation and broader development across Africa.