TCDA Empowers Northern Shea Pickers with Logistics Assets to Drive Rural Economy

The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has handed over a comprehensive package of transport logistics and protective farm equipment to female Shea pickers and Sector Associations across the five regions in the North to modernise operations and enhance rural livelihoods.

The items, presented on Tuesday at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) Residency in Tamale, form part of the Authority’s flagship “Agriculture Inputs Distribution to Tree Crops Farmers” programme aimed at strengthening the Shea value chain.

Beneficiaries drawn from the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, and North East regions received 10 tricycles, 12 motorbikes, 500 Wellington boots, 500 cutlasses, 500 pairs of hand gloves, 500 headlamps, 500 raincoats, and 500 reflective jackets.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the TCDA, Dr Andy Osei Okrah, stated that the intervention targets the severe operational and geographical hazards faced by grassroots collectors, who often travel long distances through difficult terrain.

“Women are central to the development and long-term sustainability of Ghana’s Shea industry. This logistical support is designed to ease the physical strain of harvesting, boost kernel quality, and ensure efficient transportation from collection points to aggregation hubs,” Dr Okrah highlighted.

He tasked the beneficiary cooperatives to establish strict maintenance protocols and proper record-keeping, warning that the TCDA will conduct rigorous monitoring to ensure the assets deliver maximum long-term economic returns.

Delivering an address on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ali Adolf John, the Regional Economic Development Planning Officer, Mr Isaac Mengo, lauded the initiative as a decisive step toward closing the input gap for rural women.

“The Shea sector remains a vital economic anchor for Northern Ghana, serving as a powerful driver for women’s financial independence and international trade. Providing proper tools transforms these collectors from informal labourers into resilient, commercial actors,” Mr Mengo noted.

Speaking on behalf of the recipient associations, representatives expressed gratitude to the TCDA and the Government, pledging to maintain the equipment diligently to improve kernel yield, boost household incomes, and support the national economy.

Bala Ali & Salifu Yakubu Abdulai, ISD