Assessing shea nut access in the savannah and Northern Regions of Ghana

Romeo Oduro Akrasi, Irene Susana Egyir, Alhassan Wayo Seini, Martha Awo, Prince Eddico Ntrie, Rejoice Adarkwah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The various customary and political paths through which natural resources are accessed have become topical. These issues attract more attention if they relate to access by women to support livelihoods. This paper uses qualitative approaches to describe the nature of access to shea nuts in Ghana. Sourcing information from 300 shea collectors in 15 communities in the Northern Region of Ghana indicated that majority of shea collectors relied on family fields as their main source of nuts instead of communal fields. On the political front it was revealed that shea resources are customarily managed and predominantly controlled by males. Shea trees on communal lands are under the control of traditional leaders while those on cultivated lands are controlled by family heads. The main challenge that collectors faced regarding access to shea nuts was ageing/diminishing shea population which has caused irregular and reduced fruiting.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)692-697
Number of pages6
JournalIndian Journal of Ecology
Volume48
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021

Keywords

  • Communal fields
  • Informal relations
  • Northern Ghana
  • Shea access

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessing shea nut access in the savannah and Northern Regions of Ghana'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this