By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, Nov 22, GNA – The Ghana Shea Employers Association has been launched to help build and strengthen the sector and advocate for decent employment opportunities and other sustainable and resilient socio-economic activities in the country.
The Association, launched in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) under its Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Project, funded by the Governments of Switzerland and Norway and other key partners, seeks to ignite a movement for growth, sustainability, and empowerment within the shea industry.
The launch was under the theme: “Empowering Employers, Enhancing Communities”.
It was attended by various stakeholders in the shea sector such as traditional authorities, representatives of labour unions, public institutions, civil society organisations, youth, and women groups, among others.
Mr Michael Bozumbil, First Vice President, Ghana Employers Association, speaking during the launch in Tamale, said in recent years, the country had witnessed growing global demand for shea butter and its derivatives across industries.
He said this called for an organised approach to ensuring competitiveness and strengthening the quality and sustainability of products, hence the Association.
He said, “We believe that an organised and empowered shea industry will not only position Ghana on the global stage as a leader in sustainable agricultural production but also help to address challenges related to market access, financing and technology.”
Mr Bozumbil said the Association would provide the platform for collaboration, advocacy and capacity building and unite, empower, and drive innovation in the shea industry in ways that resonated with the aspirations of every employer, worker and community connected to the sector.
He added that it would also promote responsible business practices that enhance productivity, respect labour rights, and support environmental stewardship.
Dr Vanessa Phala, ILO Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison Officer for ECOWAS, said the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) landscape in the shea sector was fragmented resulting in lack of a unified voice to champion their interests.
She said recognising the shea sector’s potential to create decent jobs and business opportunities for local entrepreneurs, especially women, the ILO did not hesitate to partner the Ghana Employers Association to implement series of activities such as business management training, local machines manufacturing, skills development for workers, among others.
Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, said the establishment of the Ghana Shea Employers Association was timely and an invaluable initiative.
He assured the Association of government’s commitment to supporting its activities by creating more favourable policies that enhanced access to finance, improved infrastructure, and encouraged research and innovation.
He said the support would also focus on promoting decent work within the industry, adding that every worker in the shea sector deserved fair wages, safe working conditions and the opportunity to grow and develop professionally.
Naa Dr Mahama Yakubu ll, Paramount Chief of Zangbalun Traditional Area, who chaired the launch, commended the Ghana Employers Association for the initiative and urged them to promote sustainable land management practices, and to discourage annual bushfires and the cutting down of shea trees for charcoal production.
GNA