The network said in recent years, tonnes of raw shea nuts are exported out of the country
Ghana Shea Cooperatives & Processors Network (GSCP-Net) has called on the government to ban the exportation of raw shea nuts in the country to save thousands of jobs at risk.
The network said in recent years, tonnes of raw shea nuts are exported out of the country, draining the true value of the product and denying many rural women the benefits.
A ban on shea nuts, according to them will not only save jobs but help to build the local shea industry to transform the lives of women and youth in the industry.
“The shea nut is more than a product. It is “women’s gold”, a lifeline for thousands of hardworking women across the north. And yet, year after year, we watch as raw shea nuts are exported in bulk, draining the true value and denying our people the benefits that should remain in Ghana.”
A petition presented to the Northern Regional Minister on Wednesday said the mass exportation of the nuts not only cause the country to lose income but also the opportunity to build the local industry and transform the lives of women and the youth working in the shea industry
“When raw nuts are shipped out, we lose jobs. We lose income. We lose the opportunity to build local industry and transform the lives of women and youth who work tirelessly in this sector,” it said.
“Local entrepreneurs have invested in modern shea processing plants. Women’s groups are ready to scale. The demand is there, the capacity is building – what we need now is policy,” the petition added.
Beyond the ban, the network also called on government to support local processors with access to affordable financing and invest in modern shea hubs across producing districts.
