Global Shea Alliance launches the Shea 2026 conference in Tamale
The Global Shea Alliance (GSA) Shea 2026 conference, aimed at exploring opportunities to strengthen the Shea sector worldwide, has been inaugurated in Tamale.
The conference, in collaboration with Shea Network Ghana and Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy initiative, aimed to develop a national strategy designed to boost productivity, create jobs, and drive industrial growth by encouraging businesses and services to operate around the clock.
The three-day event to be held in Accra from April 27–29, 2026, at the Accra International Conference Centre, Accra, and dubbed "Beyond Borders," focuses on improving livelihoods for women in Shea-processors and producers in the region and on fostering cross-border collaboration.
Bringing together industry leaders, women’s co-operatives, private-sector actors, and development partners, the SHEA 2026 would provide a platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration across the entire Shea value chain.
This year’s 18th edition of the GSA's annual conference, serving as a key platform for the global Shea industry is expected to bring together businesses, producers especially women's groups in rural Africa, policymakers, investors, brands, retailers, suppliers, NGOs, and other partners to discuss market trends, sustainability, innovation, resilient supply chains, partnerships, climate action, inclusive growth, and more in the Shea value chain.
It would also involve the Shea Expo, Exhibition, the Deal Room, and other industry events designed to showcase businesses, connect investors, and create real opportunities for partnerships across the Shea value chain.
Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, said the Shea tree, often called ‘women’s gold has provided livelihoods, food security, and economic opportunity for rural communities across Northern Ghana and the wider Sahel.
In Ghana alone, hundreds of thousands of women are engaged in collecting, processing, and trading Shea kernels and Shea butter. Through their work, they support families, educate children, and contribute significantly to the rural economy, yet the Shea sector is evolving, he said.
In driving rural economic growth, there is a need to support women entrepreneurs and expand Ghana’s export potential in ensuring the growth and sustainability of the sector, he said.
To unlock the full potential of this sector, we must think and act beyond national boundaries, strengthen regional collaboration, share knowledge and best practices, and build partnerships that allow the entire Shea ecosystem to thrive, he stressed.
Government, he noted, is committed to positioning Ghana not as a producer of raw materials but a leader in value addition, innovation, and sustainable production.
North-East Regional Minister, Mr. Ibrahim Tia, advocated for investment in the sector for economic growth, empowerment, and poverty alleviation.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Dr. Emmanuel Abeere-Inga, said the sector remains one of the strategic rural economic assets of Northern Ghana.
The NDA is committed to creating an enabling environment for development partners, private-sector actors, and value chain networks to contribute to national development, he said.
We would continue to collaborate with partners to position Northern Ghana as a hub for sustainable Shea production and value addition, he said.
This year’s conference will tackle the regional policy developments reshaping market realities while curating a high-energy environment for strategic business-to-business engagement, setting the pace for competitiveness, investment, and long-term industry resilience, Managing Director of GSA Aaron Adu Said.
“The future of the Shea sector depends on stronger collaboration, smarter investment, and policies that unlock the full potential of the value chain. SHEA 2026 will provide the space where these conversations translate into action”, he said.
He noted that the conference would also focus on strengthening cross-border collaboration, responding to evolving regional policies, and unlocking new opportunities across food, cosmetics, and industrial markets.
We are committed to building a competitive, sustainable Shea industry and supporting rural African communities, with hundreds of members across dozens of countries, he said.
The conference would feature panel discussions, training sessions, exhibitions, field visits, as well as the Deal Room, a curated space where buyers, suppliers, financiers, and service providers would engage in targeted business meetings designed to build partnerships and unlock new commercial opportunities across the Shea value chain.