In a powerful move to protect the “Green Gold” of the north, The President of the republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has joined the Overlord of the Waala State, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, in a call to criminalize the destruction of Shea trees for charcoal production.
The declaration came during the high-profile launch of the Shea Park Resource Hub at the Wa Naa’s Palace on Saturday 31, 2026. The project is set to transform the region from a hub of raw extraction into a global powerhouse for finished Shea products.
Representing the Wa Naa, the Jinpenhi Naa Kaadir announced an immediate and total ban on the felling of Shea trees for charcoal burning across the Upper West Region.
The Overlord said the economic future of the region depends on the survival of these trees. To ensure the ban is effective, the Jinpenhi Naa issued a formal plea to Traditional Authorities, the Ghana Police Service, and the Judiciary to prosecute those sabotaging the environment.
“The Shea Park will revolutionize the industry, creating jobs and financial benefits. We must embrace this project wholeheartedly,” Naa Kaadir stated.
Addressing the gathering, President John Dramani Mahama praised the Wa Naa’s bold stance, emphasizing that Shea trees are not just economic assets but a vital part of the North’s “cultural identity and ecological heritage.”
Mahama highlighted a long-standing injustice in the industry. While Ghana is a global leader in Shea production, the women who do the hard work of picking and processing remain trapped in poverty.
The Shea Park Resource Hub according to the president is designed to modernize the industry by integrating high-end processing for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals with on-site quality control laboratories. By providing specialized training, modern warehousing, and direct market access, the hub ensures international standards.
“The hub is set to drive significant socio-economic impact by directly empowering over 7,000 women and generating thousands of jobs for youth. Furthermore, it promotes agricultural diversification by integrating value chains for groundnuts, soybeans, sorghum, cotton, and honey.”
The project is a cornerstone of what Mahama described as the “Reset Agenda,” focusing on adding value to Ghanaian products before export.
“The Shea Park Resource Hub represents a decisive shift from informality to enterprise,” Mahama noted. “We are building a world-class agro-industrial ecosystem designed around sustainability and inclusion.”
The launch marks a turning point for the Upper West Region, signalling that the era of destroying precious natural resources for short-term gain is over, replaced by a vision of sustainable industrialization.
