Upper west region: Over 2,000 women have been actively engaged in a comprehensive shea conservation drive led by Pognaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak, the Paramount Queenmother of the Sing Traditional Area and Ambassador for the Shea Park Resource Hub Project. The initiative focused on promoting environmental conservation and bolstering the economic livelihoods of women involved in the shea value chain across all 11 districts of the region.
According to Ghana Web, the five-day tour, which took place from May 17 to May 21, 2026, was executed by Green Gold Savannah, the implementing partner for the ambassador's project team. This tour was part of an effort to build grassroots support for the Shea Park Resource Hub Project. The initiative aimed to educate communities on the importance of protecting shea trees and other economically valuable plant species while advocating for the enforcement of local bylaws against indiscriminate tree felling, particularly for charcoal production.
During the tour, the delegation visited 17 communities and directly engaged with more than 2,000 women shea pickers, traditional authorities, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders. A series of community dialogues were held, providing women the opportunity to discuss practical alternatives to charcoal production, which is a leading cause of shea tree destruction in the region.
The women participants reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the shea ecosystem, emphasizing that sustainable conservation efforts must be supported by viable economic opportunities. Among the interventions proposed by the communities were the construction of small irrigation dams for year-round farming, vocational training in soap-making, weaving, and hairdressing, and the provision of modern shea butter processing equipment.
Additionally, the communities appealed for tricycles to facilitate the transportation of harvested shea nuts, personal protective equipment to reduce occupational hazards during harvesting, and improved access to reliable markets for processed shea butter. They also called for affordable financing through low-interest loan schemes to enable women to expand their businesses and reduce reliance on activities that threaten the shea ecosystem.
Project coordinators hailed the regional engagement as a significant milestone, fostering community ownership of the Shea Park Resource Hub Project while strengthening collaboration among traditional authorities, local communities, and development partners. Traditional leaders and women's groups expressed gratitude to the Rt Hon. Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Republic of Ghana for supporting the establishment of the project, describing it as a transformative initiative capable of creating sustainable economic opportunities while protecting one of northern Ghana's most valuable natural resources.
According to the project team, the insights and recommendations gathered during the tour will guide the next phase of implementation, ensuring that community priorities remain central to the project's rollout. The Shea Park Resource Hub Project is anticipated to enhance environmental protection, promote sustainable livelihoods, and strengthen the shea value chain across northern Ghana through community-led interventions and strategic partnerships.