A horticulture lecturer at the University for Development Studies in Tamale Dr. J. A. Yidana has advised against the hasty establishment of a Shea board (SHEABOD) to nurture the activities of the shea sector in Ghana.
The SNV Netherlands Development Organization, in 2010 and 2012 reported that approximately the sector engages and provides incomes for some 900,000 Ghanaian rural women shea nut collectors, 7,000 women butter processors, and 100 shea traders.
Speaking at a two day BUSAC Funded training and education program for selected media houses on Ghana’s shea sector in Tamale, Dr. Yidana said the roadmap to establish a SHEABOD should be hastened steadily and not rushed which will allow a careful and apt establishment of the board to meet its purpose.
“There is this kind of pressure for government to put in place a SHEABOD. This board will nurture the activities of the shea sector but speaking from a technical point of view, I think we should not rush to establish it but rather discuss extensively the processes and get all other things in place before we establish the board” he said.
According to him, resources which include funding, activities of the proposed board and a legislative instrument are key and should be properly put in place before the final result of putting up the board.
A committee was established in 2011 by government to draw a roadmap for the establishment of a SHEABOD for the northern sector. Subsequently, the committee presented a proposal to COCOBOD which will be presented to government for implementation and establishment of the SHEABOD in 2023.
Dr. Yidana warned that “if we don’t do due diligence and thread cautiously before rushing to establish the board, it might face challenges like SADA did.”
He noted that in as much as the board is highly needed to bring about the growth of the shea sector, the 2023 timeline is very appropriate and anytime earlier than the proposed date may bring about a hasty establishment without due diligence.
By: Azongo Albert | A1RADIOONLINE.com | GHANA
