Shea nuts must remain under the ownership and management of local producers. Ghana’s shea industry is at risk of being stripped of its heritage as multinationals push for control of raw materials. Government must go beyond banning exports: it must protect artisanal processors, ensure fair pay and dignity for women pickers, and preserve domestic ownership so that the wealth of shea stays with Ghanaian communities.

Ghana loses tens of millions of dollars every year by exporting raw shea nuts instead of processing them locally, and the price of shea nuts has risen by over 25% in the past eight years — squeezing local processors even further. This combination of lost value and rising costs makes the case for an immediate ban on raw exports urgent and undeniable.