Ghana Shea Expo: Vice President leads call to plant more shea trees
By Murtala Issah The growing threat to Ghana’s shea tree population from charcoal production, fuelwood harvesting and changing climatic conditions is raising concerns about the future sustainability of the country’s shea industry. The shea tree, which occurs naturally across Ghana’s northern savannah belt, is increasingly being cut down for fuel and charcoal, while prolonged dry […]
Ghana’s shea tree population is facing threats from charcoal production, fuelwood harvesting, and climate change, raising concerns about the industry's future sustainability. The shea tree, endemic to Ghana's northern savannah belt, is being cut down for fuel and charcoal, and climate-related challenges are affecting shea nut production.
Despite rising global demand for shea and its derivatives, deliberate measures to protect and replenish the resource are needed. The domestication of shea has been advocated as a critical strategy, with grafted seedlings offering a faster path to production. At the Ghana Shea Expo 2026 in Tamale, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku- Agyemang led a call to plant more shea trees to encourage communities and stakeholders to participate in regeneration and domestication.
A demonstration farm was also established to educate farmers on cultivating grafted shea seedlings and modern shea production methods. With the industry's importance to millions of people, protecting existing trees and investing in domestication could safeguard livelihoods and promote climate resilience.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
