President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the Sheapark Resource Hub in Wa as a strategic intervention to transform Ghana’s shea industry, expand value addition and create sustainable jobs in the Upper West Region.
The project, championed by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin, with backing from government, development partners, traditional authorities and the private sector, is expected to reposition the region as a major centre for shea processing and export.
Addressing stakeholders at the launch, President Mahama who was Guest of Honour, said the Sheapark Resource Hub reflects his government’s resolve to industrialise underserved regions by harnessing local resources for national growth.
“This facility represents our determination to move beyond extraction and exporting raw materials to building industries that create wealth at home,” the President said. “Value addition is no longer optional; it is the path to inclusive development.”
He explained that the initiative directly supports efforts to reduce poverty by strengthening local economies and improving incomes for communities that depend on the shea value chain.
President Mahama cautioned against the continued export of raw shea nuts, describing it as a missed economic opportunity for Ghana.
“We lose millions of dollars every year by exporting shea in its raw state,” he said. “Processing shea locally is how we keep value, jobs and profits within our economy.”
He noted that shea has long been embedded in Ghanaian culture, serving as food, medicine and cosmetic material, and has now become a highly sought-after commodity in global cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food markets.
Despite this growing demand, the President expressed concern that women who harvest and trade shea nuts remain among the least rewarded actors in the value chain.
“Our women do the hardest work, yet earn the least,” President Mahama said. “Once that same shea is processed abroad, its value multiplies, and Ghana gains almost nothing. This hub is meant to change that story.”
According to him, the Sheapark Resource Hub will ensure that shea nuts are processed, refined and packaged locally into finished products before export.
He said the facility will generate employment, boost household incomes and stimulate auxiliary industries such as logistics, packaging and marketing.
President Mahama further linked the project to his government’s 24-hour economy agenda, which seeks to promote continuous production and employment throughout the year.
“This hub will not sleep,” he said. “From processing to packaging and distribution, operations will run in shifts, creating steady jobs for young people and women.”
The Sheapark Resource Hub is expected to process shea into cosmetics, ointments and food products for domestic use and international markets, while contributing to export earnings and local economic growth.
Rt. Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin, described the project as a transformational investment for the Upper West Region.
“This is more than a factory; it is an economic lifeline for our people,” the Speaker said. “It has the potential to redefine women empowerment, job creation and agro-industrial development in this region.”
Rt. Hon. Bagbin assured stakeholders that the project would not suffer neglect after commissioning, stressing that government commitment would extend beyond the launch.
“This hub will not be abandoned,” he stated. “We will provide the policy, institutional and financial support required to ensure it functions efficiently and sustainably.”
He emphasized that the Sheapark Resource Hub has been fully aligned with the government’s 24-hour economy framework to maximise productivity and returns.
The Speaker also called on local authorities, community leaders and beneficiaries to protect and support the project.
“No development initiative succeeds without local ownership,” he said. “The people of the Upper West must see this as their own and work to make it thrive.”
Rt. Hon. Bagbin highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative, noting that its success depends on strong partnerships.
“This project brings together government, chiefs, private investors, development partners and the media,” he said. “That collective effort is what will make it sustainable.”
He commended President Mahama for his leadership, describing him as a driving force behind the vision of the Sheapark Resource Hub.
“The President has demonstrated a clear commitment to industrialisation and export-led growth,” the Speaker said. “This hub fits squarely into flagship programmes such as the 24-hour economy, the BigPush and accelerated export development.”
Rt. Hon. Bagbin added that the facility would open opportunities across the shea ecosystem, including tree planting, harvesting, processing and marketing.
He said the hub would particularly ease long-standing constraints faced by women-led micro, small and medium-scale shea processors.
“Access to power, financing, logistics and markets has always been a challenge,” he noted. “This hub is designed to remove those barriers and allow women to scale up their operations.”
Source: www.kumasimail.com
