Q&A: From the Field: How Shea Trees are Changing Lives in Ghana
29th April 2025
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Robert Atawura is Tree Aid’s Ghana Country Programme Manager. We spoke to him about the vital role of shea trees in African drylands and how community-led shea projects are not only protecting the environment but transforming lives.
Can you tell us a bit about your role at Tree Aid and how you came to work here?
My role involves overseeing and coordinating our programmes across operational regions—planning projects, managing teams, working with partners, and ensuring everything aligns with Tree Aid’s mission of tackling poverty and restoring the environment through trees.
I joined Tree Aid because of my passion for sustainable development and environmental conservation. I also bring experience in community engagement, which helps me connect closely with the people we work with.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I love seeing communities adopt natural resource management, advocacy, and enterprise development practices. Knowing I’ve helped build their capacity—whether through workshops or hands-on field sessions—is very rewarding.
What shea-related projects are you currently working on?
We’re currently involved in the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project.
It’s a three-year initiative funded by the Green . We work alongside other stakeholders in the shea value chain to promote shea restoration by planting trees in parklands, degraded landscapes, and agroforestry fields.
We also promote natural regeneration to increase the shea tree population and encourage early-maturing varieties.
Why is shea so important to women across Africa?
Shea plays a huge role in the livelihoods of women across the 21 countries in Africa’s shea belt. The tree is highly versatile— various parts are used for medicinal purposes, including treating burns, skin conditions, and even diabetes.
What challenges do people face when growing and processing shea?
There are quite a few: access and rights to land, the slow growth rate of shea trees (it can take up to 25 years for a tree to mature!). Alongside these, threats from bushfires, and tree felling for charcoal, farmland expansion. Even a lack of proper storage can be really challenging, as produce can be spoiled if not stored properly. Processing is also very labour-intensive, and there’s the added risk of encountering snakes or other wildlife while collecting nuts in the wild.
How do you support people dealing with these challenges?
We provide training in techniques like grafting and assisted natural regeneration (ANR), which all help to protect the trees. We also raise awareness about the dangers of bushfires, offer protective gear, and build community-owned warehouses and processing centres.
What improvements has Tree Aid made to the shea processing process?
There have been many transformative changes. Community members—especially women—are now making a conscious effort to protect shea trees, including young saplings. They understand these trees improve soil quality, support the climate, and contribute to their livelihoods.
We’ve also built warehouses and shea butter processing centres, which have strengthened cooperative groups and boosted their productivity. These help to provide opportunities for women to take on leadership roles.
One inspiring example is Nubi Ndinasi, a woman with a physical disability who operates the shea miller in Gmanfudo. Her confidence and joy in her work are evident every day.
And it’s not just about shea—the facilities benefit entire communities by providing access to food processing, drying spaces for crops, and storage. The list goes on!
Are there traditional uses for shea butter?
Yes, plenty. Shea butter is used to anoint newborn babies, during naming ceremonies, sacrifices, funerals, and for marking seasonal calendars.
What’s one thing about shea that might surprise people?
The shea tree is incredibly resilient—it can grow in very harsh conditions and is resistant to many infections. It’s also excellent for agroforestry, supporting soil health, improving microclimates, and increasing crop yields. In many ways, it’s as valuable as cocoa—especially for women.
Are there any recipes that use shea butter?
Definitely! Some favourites include local jollof rice, Bambara beans with shea oil, beans cakes fried in shea butter, and moringa leaves cooked with shea butter.
Final thoughts?
Shea is more than just a tree—it’s a vital source of income, empowerment, and resilience for communities across Africa. Supporting shea projects helps protect the environment while also changing lives.