In many communities across northern Ghana, livelihoods are deeply tied to the land, and the natural resources families depend on to survive. For women like Osman Mariama in Basyonde, in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region, one such resource is shea.

Shea, from which shea butter is derived, is a natural fat extracted from the kernels of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), native to the African continent. It’s a valuable commodity widely used for cooking, fabricating cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, and, most significantly, as a substitute for cocoa butter in chocolate production. In Ghana, shea stands as one of the leading export commodities. According to recent reports, the global market for shea butter is estimated at US$2.75 billion, with projections indicating a growth to $5.58 billion by the year 2033.Yet behind this valuable commodity lies physically demanding work.

For generations, women in Mariama’s community have processed shea nuts into butter using traditional methods, an intensive, multi-step process that can take several days to complete a single batch. It involves drying the nuts under the scorching sun, roasting them over firewood, grinding them manually, and churning for hours to extract the butter.

The work is not only time-consuming but physically exhausting. Women often endure long hours in smoke-filled environments, constant bending and lifting, and exposure to heat that can lead to fatigue and health risks.

With funding support from the Government of Japan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana, in partnership with Community Development Alliance (CDA-Ghana), has handed over two modern shea butter processing facilities to the Basyondede and Woriyanga communities.

“For the women here, shea butter is like our gold,” Mariama said. “It is what we depend on to support our families.”

Equipped with modern grinders and roasters, the facilities are transforming production, reducing processing time, easing the physical burden on women, and improving the quality and consistency of the butter.

Speaking on behalf of UNDP, the Peace and Governance Analyst Melody Azinim, noted that the handover marked a commitment to putting women at the centre of development. "When you reduce the burden on a woman, you multiply her potential," she said. "These facilities are investments in the dignity and economic future of these communities."

The initiative is expected to benefit about 150 women engaged in the shea value chain, enabling them to increase output and earn more stable incomes.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the District Chief Executive for Tempane District, Joseph Mbilah, emphasized the importance of community ownership.

“This facility belongs to the people, especially the women who will use it,” he said. “It is important that they work together to manage it well so that it continues to benefit the community for many years.”

Speaking on behalf of CDA-Ghana Jonas Tia, said, “We worked closely with these communities from the very beginning understanding their needs, building trust, and ensuring the facilities were set up in a way that women could immediately own and operate," they said. "Seeing it come together brings us so much joy and highlights the greatest potential of true partnership with communities”.