Shea Network Ghana holds annual general meeting, constitutes new board

Shea Network Ghana (SNG) an organization of shea sector businesses, stakeholders and value chain actors, on Thursday April 18, 2024, convened its highly anticipated Annual General Meeting (AGM ), a pivotal platform that enabled the network to usher in new board members and received reports from the Coordinating Team of the network.

The one-day event, held at the Pioneer Guest Lodge, Tamale was attended by a cross-section of stakeholders, including the Network Members, Affiliates and Sector Players, underscoring the widespread interest and significance of the event within the shea industry.

During the meeting, attention was focused on the composition of the new board due to the expiration of the tenure of the old board members, marking a significant transition in the leadership of network and the shea industry to help drive the needed change desired by the members.

The well-attended event also served as an opportunity for the introduction of fresh perspectives and expertise that promises to invigorate the organization's mission and objectives, ensuring continued progress and impact in the sector.

It further provided a platform for the members to optimize and renewed their sense of purpose and to reflect on their collective resolve to leverage the potential of shea to drive economic empowerment women and environmental sustainability in Ghana.

National Coordinator for the network ,Alhaji Iddi Zakaria, presenting activities report to members, called for a rethinking in ways the network was funded to enable it deliver the desired services to members.

He also called for the revision of the Network's Strategic Plan which he said expired years ago and was affecting the smooth running of the organization.

Alhaji Iddi, mentioned low-member service delivery, conflict of interest/identity challenges, non-payment of membership dues and limited sources of funding for the network, as some challenges facing them.

On membership, the Coordinator noted that the network currently has a total of four hundred and eight (408) registered members with one hundred and five (105) of them being Institutional members.

Adding that two hundred and thirty-five (235) of the members were handcrafted Shea butter processing centers, three (3) service providers, eighteen (18) large and international buyers as well as forty-five (45) local and International NGOs and two (2) financial institutions, and called for a vigorous membership registration drive activity to recruit more players in the sector to make it more stronger.

"We are happy to be sharing this report highlighting on the key milestones, successes and challenges on the state of affairs of SNG with sober reflections on its impact and areas of strengthening to attain corporate mission and objectives set out by the founding fathers grounded in the constitution as summarized below" Alhaji Iddi stated.

He expressed gratitude to network members, its board directors, stakeholders and value chain actors for their continuous support to the Coordinating Team in its running of the network activities, and urged the new directors to work towards sustaining the funding sources of the network and to increase number of members.

A Board Member of the network and Chairperson for the event, Abdulai Fati Abigael, in her submissions, thanked the network members for the believe and trust they had in the former board executives and the support they had in running the affairs of the network.

Madam Fati, who doubles as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Widows and Orphans Movement, challenged the new board to forge for better prices and befits for members in the shea industry.

Some of the members, during discussions, appealed for better prices, improved working conditions and availability of markets for the sector.