Shea Processors call for ban on export of raw shea-nuts in Ghana

Ghana Shea Cooperatives & Processors Network (GSCP-Net) has called connected authorities to prohibition connected the exportation of earthy shea-nuts successful the state to prevention thousands of jobs astatine risk.

The web said successful caller years, tonnes of earthy shea nuts are exported retired of the country, draining the existent worth of the merchandise and denying galore agrarian women the benefits.

A prohibition connected shea nuts, according to them volition not lone prevention jobs but assistance to physique the section shea manufacture to alteration the lives of women and younker successful the industry.

It said "The shea seed is much than a product. It is “women’s gold”, a lifeline for thousands of hardworking women crossed the north. And yet, twelvemonth aft year, we ticker arsenic earthy shea nuts are exported successful bulk, draining the existent worth and denying our radical the benefits that should stay successful Ghana.”

A petition presented to the Northern Regional Minister connected Wednesday and copied to GhanaWeb said the wide exportation of the nuts does not lone origin the state to suffer income but besides the accidental to physique the section manufacture and alteration the lives of women and the younker moving successful the shea inudstry.

“When earthy nuts are shipped out, we suffer jobs. We suffer income. We suffer the accidental to physique section manufacture and alteration the lives of women and younker who enactment tirelessly successful this sector.” It said.

“Local entrepreneurs person invested successful modern shea processing plants. Women’s groups are acceptable to scale. The request is there, the capableness is gathering – what we request present is policy.” the petition added.

Beyond the ban, the web besides called connected authorities to enactment section processors with entree to affordable financing and put successful modern shea hubs crossed producing districts.