The conference was held under the theme “Shea 2016: Enhancing Farm Value,” with participants drawn from  Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and South Sudan.

President Mahama, quoting the Ghana Standard Living report said women in the northern regions were the poorest so investing in shea nuts is the surest way of reversing the trend.

The president said his government will work to eliminate middlemen that operate within the processing stage of the crop who are depriving women of fair payment for their labour.

Mr Moumouni Konate, President of GSA, said More than 16,000,000 women collect and process shea.

Two billion shea trees grow naturally on parklands in 21 countries stretching from Senegal to South Sudan, he said.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, pledged to offer all the necessary support that would empower the shea sector.