The Ambassador to the SheaPark Resource Hub Project and the Paramount Queen Mother of the Sing Traditional Area, Pognaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak, has joined Buipewura, Jinapor II,
The report indicates that the Ambassador to the SheaPark Resource Hub Project and the Paramount Queen Mother of the Sing Traditional Area, Pognaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak, has joined Buipewura, Jinapor II, Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, to celebrate Shea Day in Buipe.
It further notes that according to her, the annual observance should serve not only as a celebration of the shea tree but also as a renewed commitment to conserving it for future generations.
She called for urgent action to protect Ghana’s shea trees, warning that the future of one of the country’s most valuable natural resources depends on the collective efforts of government, traditional authorities, development partners and local communities.
The event, hosted by the Buipewura, Jinapor II, Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, brought together chiefs, queenmothers, representatives of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, officials of the Global Shea Alliance, the Forestry Commission, women shea processors and stakeholders across Ghana’s shea value chain.
Addressing attendees, Dr. Joseph Appiah-Gyapong, Director in-charge of climate change at the Forestry Commission, highlighted the growing threats facing the shea ecosystem across West Africa.
“Across West Africa, we are losing an estimated eight million shea trees every year. Population growth, agricultural expansion, bushfires, unsustainable tree removal and the impacts of climate change are placing unprecedented pressure on our shared resources,” he said.
He noted that if the current trend continues, projections indicate that global demand for shea products will soon outstrip supply, posing significant environmental and economic risks for countries that depend on the industry.
Speaking at the event, the Ambassador also urged stronger collaboration among traditional authorities, government institutions, development partners and local communities to safeguard the future of the shea sector.
“There is no project that can succeed without the involvement of traditional leaders. Community engagement begins with our chiefs and queenmothers, and their leadership remains critical to protecting our natural resources,” she stated.
Representing the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Founder and Chairperson of the Eco-Groove Development Initiative Foundation, the rep. congratulated the organisers and reaffirmed the Speaker’s commitment to supporting sustainable development within Ghana’s shea industry.
He stated strengthening partnerships and increasing investments in the sector would create jobs, improve livelihoods and contribute significantly to climate resilience.
“Together, we can create thousands of decent jobs for our youth. Together, we can empower more women to build sustainable livelihoods. Together, we can restore degraded landscapes, strengthen our fight against climate change and position Ghana as the global benchmark for premium, sustainably produced shea products,” she said.
The Ambassador also underscored the central role women continue to play in the shea value chain, describing them as the industry’s backbone whose contributions have sustained families and communities for generations.
She encouraged participants to actively participate in nationwide tree planting initiatives and announced that, through the SheaPark Resource Hub Project, more than 30,000 shea seedlings have already been planted in the Upper West Region.
