{
  "id": 1946143,
  "title": "Shea butter industry losing millions of raw shea nut through export – Shea Butter Employers Association",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/shea-butter-industry-losing-millions-of-raw-shea-nut-through-export-1946143",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-19T12:55:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Joy Business",
    "slug": "joy-business",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/shea-butter-industry-losing-millions-of-raw-shea-nut-through-export-shea-butter-employers-association/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ghana Shea Butter Employers Association is raising alarm over the loss of millions of cedis due to the export of raw shea nuts, rather than processing them locally. The president of the association, Rabiatu Abubakari, explained that this is depriving Ghana of valuable revenue and job opportunities. She highlighted the industry's struggles, including limited access to finance, poor storage facilities, and high interest rates on loans. Rabiatu noted that about 70 percent of Ghana's raw shea nuts are being exported, leaving local processors with insufficient supplies and affecting the income of farmers. To address these challenges, she proposed that the government should reduce raw shea nut exports and promote local processing within the 24-hour economy initiative. The association is seeking increased investment from the government in financing, storage facilities, and local processing to make the shea butter industry more sustainable and ensure that more value remains within Ghana.",
  "summary": "President of the Ghana Shea Butter Employers Association, Rabiatu Abubakari, says Ghana is losing millions of cedis in revenue as a large proportion of raw shea nuts are exported instead of being processed locally.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Shea butter industry losing millions to raw shea nut exports – group",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/shea-butter-industry-losing-millions-to-raw-shea-nut-exports-group",
        "published": "2026-08-19T12:20:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Shea butter industry losing millions to raw shea nut to exports – Shea Butter Employers Association",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/shea-butter-industry-losing-millions-to-raw-shea-nut-to-exports-shea",
        "published": "2026-08-19T12:55:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}