AAK Ghana and Ministry of Agriculture Sign Strategic Pact to Drive Shea Industry Growth and Value Addition

AAK Ghana Limited has formalised a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at accelerating value addition within Ghana's shea industry. Signed in Accra and witnessed by the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, the agreement seeks to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and sustainable growth. By focusing on local processing capacity and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the partnership intends to transform the shea sector into a significant value-driven segment of the national economy.

Central to this collaboration is the expansion of AAK’s flagship "Kolo Nafaso" sustainable sourcing programme. The initiative currently provides support and market access to over 230,000 women shea collectors across the country, with plans to scale this reach to 300,000 participants. Beyond sourcing, the agreement outlines the establishment of the AAK Ghana Innovation Academy, a dedicated facility for skills development. This academy, alongside direct investments in local processing technology and logistics, is designed to empower women and youth while improving the overall efficiency of the shea supply chain.

The partnership also places a heavy emphasis on environmental sustainability and long-term industry resilience. Both AAK and the Ministry have committed to supporting shea reforestation efforts to protect the natural resource base essential for the industry’s future. These initiatives are expected to create numerous job opportunities and improve the livelihoods of rural communities, particularly those dependent on the shea value chain. AAK's Lasse Skaksen and Minister Eric Opoku underscored that the agreement reflects a shared vision for an inclusive and competitive agricultural sector.

This strategic move aligns with the government’s broader "Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda," which prioritises industrialisation and sustainable agricultural practices. By moving beyond the export of raw materials to sophisticated local processing, the partnership positions Ghana to capture a greater share of the global shea market. The collaboration highlights AAK’s long-term commitment to Ghana and represents a critical step toward achieving sustainable economic development through strategic public-private partnerships.