Photos: Vice President joins planting of shea seedlings at Futa Community in Tamale

On Tuesday, September 15, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang took part in the planting of specially chosen shea seedlings at a demonstration farm within the Futa Community, located in Tamale. This event was a part of her participation in the World Shea Expo, where she emphasized the importance of increased investment in Ghana's shea industry.

The Vice President suggested that the development of novel shea varieties could lead to enhanced productivity and the creation of new products from a resource that has historically self-sustained within Ghana's shea belt.

Addressing the attendees, the Vice President advocated for greater collaboration between universities, research institutions, farmers, and industry stakeholders to advance research and innovation within the sector. Moreover, she stressed the necessity of ensuring that women, who hold a central position in the shea industry, receive a larger share of the value produced along the value chain.

To this end, the Vice President highlighted that women require improved access to finance, technology, and markets, as well as opportunities to establish and own businesses throughout the sector.

She proposed that the Women’s Development Bank could assist in addressing some financing challenges by offering accessible and suitable funding to women seeking to enlarge their businesses. The Vice President further posited that investment in research, financing, and processing could transform Ghana's shea belt into a more robust center for processing, innovation, and commerce.

By doing so, the generated value from shea would remain within the communities that the resource originates from, thereby benefiting the local populations.