Four shea butter processing factories in the offing

• Posted on March 12, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Government, in collaboration with the African Development Bank and the Rural Enterprise Programme, will establish four new modern shea butter processing facilities in the country before the year 2019 ends.

This was disclosed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The initiative will fall under government’s One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme.

According to a study by LMC International, shea exports have increased from 50,000 metric tons to more than 350,000 metric tons annually over the last 20 years.

The growth is due to increased utilization of shea in global food and cosmetic markets. The increased exports are delivering every year 200 million USD in direct and indirect income for shea producing communities.

Ghana currently has 5 shea processing factories with over 150,000 metric tons in installed capacity.

Speaking at the 12th International Shea Conference in Accra, Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyremateng, said government would continue to roll out initiatives that would make Ghana a leader in shea production.

“Government, in collaboration with the African Development Bank and the Rural Enterprise Programme, will be establishing 4 new modern processing facilities under the One District, One Factory initiative”, he stated

and added “The facilities will be owned and managed by organized youth groups as part of the ‘Enable Youth’ programme”.

Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan, has assured of the US’ commitment to increase investments in Ghana’s shea industry.

This comes even as the US agency for International Development has over the few years supported the shea industry in West Africa with over 100 million U S dollars and 73 warehouses, of which Ghana has 34.