The presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy Programme, Goosie Tanoh has stated that the long-term growth of Africa’s shea industry will depend on effective cross-border cooperation among producing countries, as the sector seeks to retain more value within the continent.
He explained that national approaches alone would not deliver sustainable growth, instead he advocated for a coordinated regional framework where countries specialize along different segments of the value chain while engaging global markets as a unified bloc.
Mr. Tanoh made the call at the opening of the three-day Global Shea Alliance’s Shea 2026 conference in Accra.
The conference was organized by Global Shea Alliance (GSA), in partnership with the Government of Ghana through the 24 Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Secretariat (24H+).
Under the theme ‘Shea 2026: Beyond Borders,’ the event will provide a platform for participants from Africa and across the globe, to discuss critical issues affecting the industry, explore market opportunities and strengthen partnerships aimed at promoting the growth of the shea sector.
Goosie Tanoh noted that although shea is indigenous to Africa, the bulk of its value continues to be captured abroad, which he said, makes regional collaboration unavoidable, urging countries within the shea belt to pursue joint investments and shared ownership of processing infrastructure.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key enabler for regional industrialisation, providing the legal and commercial framework to expand production of higher-value shea derivatives, including cosmetics, food products and pharmaceuticals” he said.
The Presidential Advisor outlined priority areas for advancing the sector, including increased investment in scientific research to improve yields and processing, development of branding and certification capabilities, greater inclusion of women in higher-value segments of the industry, conservation of shea parklands, and stronger coordination between governments, communities and private sector actors.
