Ghana’s growing ambition to become a major player in agricultural processing is facing a critical challenge — securing a sustainable supply of raw materials.
The Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) has urged Ghana Nuts Company Limited, one of the country’s leading agricultural processors, to invest in shea tree cultivation to safeguard the future of its operations and the wider shea industry.
The call was made during the Bono East Region leg of GIPA’s Regional Investment Roadshow, when officials visited the company, a subsidiary of the OBA Group.
Ghana Nuts, established in 2001, processes shea nuts and soybeans into edible oils and other value-added products for both local and international markets.
The company’s Commercial Manager, Kojo Obeng Aboagye, said the facility processes about 250 tonnes of shea nuts and 150 tonnes of soybeans daily, producing high-grade shea butter and edible oils for export.
Its products are shipped to markets in Europe, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Russia and other parts of Africa, supporting the cosmetic and food processing industries.
However, GIPA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Razak Baba, said sustaining such growth requires deliberate investment in the production of the raw materials that feed the processing industry.
He encouraged Ghana Nuts to establish dedicated shea plantations to guarantee a reliable and sustainable supply of shea nuts in the coming years.
According to him, expanding cultivation will not only protect the company’s operations but also strengthen Ghana’s position in the global shea value chain.
The visit formed part of GIPA’s efforts to identify investment opportunities, support local businesses and promote value addition across Ghana’s regions.
Ghana’s shea industry remains a key contributor to the country’s agricultural economy, with increasing demand from the cosmetics, food and manufacturing sectors globally.
