A CASE STUDY PROFILE ON ORGANIC SHEA PROCESSING IN DRYLAND NOTHERN GHANA

This document consists of four case study profiles detailing locally-led climate adaptation practices in Ghana. It covers organic shea processing in the West Gonja District, climate-smart agriculture in the Savannah and northern regions, flood response in the peri-urban area of Aboabo, and coastal erosion management in Keta town. Across these regions, common themes include the use of community-based organizations, the alignment of local actions with Ghana's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and persistent challenges regarding financial resources and institutional support.

• In the West Gonja District of northern Ghana, women have utilized Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to facilitate group-based organic shea processing. This approach has increased women's access to credit, which they have used to invest in organic shea processing, tree planting, and climate-smart agriculture, resulting in improved shea butter quality and increased production.
• Adaptation strategies for shea processing in northern Ghana include the use of energy-saving stoves for parboiling shea nuts and the implementation of community-based conservation, such as tree planting and local by-laws that prohibit charcoal burning and logging.
• In the Savannah and northern regions of Ghana, communities are employing climate-smart agricultural and agroecological practices to combat food insecurity and soil degradation. These include conservation agriculture, the use of drought-resistant crop varieties, agroforestry, integrated pest management, and community-based solar-powered irrigation.
• In the peri-urban area of Aboabo in the Ashanti region, local communities have responded to frequent flooding caused by poor infrastructure and waste dumping in the Aboabo River valley. Adaptation measures include desilting drainage systems, raising the foundation levels of wooden houses, and implementing climate change education and early warning systems.
• In Keta town, Volta Region, communities are adapting to coastal erosion and rising sea levels through a mix of structural and nature-based solutions. These include building boulder revetments and gabions, beach nourishment, restoring mangrove forests, and creating dual canals (water passages). Some households have resorted to relocation or transnational fishing.
• Across the various case studies, several recurring limitations hinder adaptation efforts, most notably a lack of financial resources and insufficient support or incentives from local authorities and the central government.

APA

Africa Policy Research Institute (n.d.). A CASE STUDY PROFILE ON ORGANIC SHEA PROCESSING IN DRYLAND NOTHERN GHANA. https://afripoli.org/projects/climate-adaptation/uploads/files/Ghana_Case_Study_Profile.pdf

Chicago

Africa Policy Research Institute. A CASE STUDY PROFILE ON ORGANIC SHEA PROCESSING IN DRYLAND NOTHERN GHANA. n.d. https://afripoli.org/projects/climate-adaptation/uploads/files/Ghana_Case_Study_Profile.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Africa Policy Research Institute |title=A CASE STUDY PROFILE ON ORGANIC SHEA PROCESSING IN DRYLAND NOTHERN GHANA |url=https://afripoli.org/projects/climate-adaptation/uploads/files/Ghana_Case_Study_Profile.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{africapolicyresearchinstitutendcase, author = {{Africa Policy Research Institute}}, title = {{A CASE STUDY PROFILE ON ORGANIC SHEA PROCESSING IN DRYLAND NOTHERN GHANA}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, url = {https://afripoli.org/projects/climate-adaptation/uploads/files/Ghana_Case_Study_Profile.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }