President John Mahama to Grace 2025 World Shea Expo in Tamale
Barring any last-minute changes, the President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama, will grace the 2025 edition of the World Shea Expo, slated for 2nd to 4th September 2025 at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale.
The Expo, which is backed by the Office of the President through the Presidential Initiative on Agriculture and Agribusiness, is being organized under the theme: “Empowering Women and Youth-Led SMEs in the Shea Value Chain: The Role of Government and Financial Institutions.”
The presence of President Mahama is expected to give the Expo an added significance as it brings together the global shea fraternity in Tamale.
Addressing a pre-event media conference in Tamale on Tuesday, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Alhassan Abubakari, said the Expo represents far more than a celebration of the shea tree. “It is an attestation to economic transformation, cultural heritage, and sustainable development opportunities for Ghana and the wider West African region,” he stated.
The Chairman emphasized that women and youth remain the backbone of shea harvesting and processing across the sub-region, yet continue to face barriers in accessing finance, technology, and competitive markets.
He explained that the Expo would provide a unique platform to address these challenges by convening policymakers, financial institutions, innovators, private-sector leaders, civil society organizations, and cooperatives.
“The Expo will advance practical pathways for scaling up investment, building capacity, and creating enabling policies that allow women and youth-led shea enterprises not only to survive but to flourish,” he said, adding that targeted government support and bold financial commitments could transform the shea value chain into a driver of decent jobs, export earnings, and rural prosperity.
He further noted that the initiative aligns with the government’s 24-hour economy policy and broader green growth agenda.
The 2025 World Shea Expo is being organized by PIAA-SGTL, EXIMBANK, GEPA, COCOBOD, NDA, NRCC, TCDA, COCOSHE, WACSIR-UDS, and GEA, in collaboration with several partners including FAGE, GSA, MoTAI, Jaksally, ISD, SNG, YEDENT, and IDH.
The LoC has since called on stakeholders to come on board as sponsors, collaborators, exhibitors, and participants, while urging the media to amplify the untold stories of resilience and innovation within the shea industry.
