The Global Shea Alliance (GSA) has officially launched SHEA 2026: Beyond Borders, its flagship annual conference, in Tamale, Northern Region.
A key highlight of this year’s edition is the GSA’s collaboration with Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy initiative, a national strategy aimed at boosting productivity, creating jobs, and accelerating industrial growth by encouraging businesses and services to operate around the clock.
The launch brings together industry leaders, women’s cooperatives, private sector players, and development partners to foster meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration across the entire shea value chain.
The event was officially opened by the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John Mburidiba, who underscored the strategic importance of northern Ghana in the global shea industry. The region, home to millions of shea trees and thousands of women whose livelihoods depend on shea nut collection and processing, remains a vital hub in the international shea value chain.
SHEA 2026 is scheduled to take place from 27 to 29 April 2026 at the Accra International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana.
The conference will convene stakeholders from across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia to explore emerging opportunities in trade, investment, and innovation within the shea sector.
Now in its 18th year, the SHEA Conference continues to serve as the premier global platform for dialogue and business in the shea industry.
Under the theme “Beyond Borders,” the 2026 edition will emphasise strengthening cross-border collaboration, adapting to evolving regional policies, and unlocking new market opportunities in food, cosmetics, and industrial applications.
The programme will include high-level panel discussions, capacity-building training sessions, exhibitions, field visits, and the popular Deal Room – a dedicated space where buyers, suppliers, financiers, and service providers can hold targeted business-to-business meetings to forge partnerships and unlock commercial opportunities along the shea value chain.
Speaking ahead of the launch, the Managing Director of the Global Shea Alliance stated: “The future of the shea sector depends on stronger collaboration, smarter investment, and policies that unlock the full potential of the value chain. SHEA 2026 will provide the space where these conversations translate into action.”
The conference is expected to reinforce Ghana’s position as a leading player in the global shea economy while promoting sustainable development, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive growth across the shea-producing regions of West Africa.
