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Shea fruit: Savanah’s overlooked edible treasure
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Every year between May and August, Northern Ghana comes alive with the shea season.
While most people know the shea tree for its butter used in cooking, cosmetics, and traditional medicine, few outside the region have tasted its fruit fresh from the branch.
The shea fruit is small, oval, and green when unripe. It turns yellowish when ready to eat. Beneath the thin skin lies a sweet, creamy pulp with a flavour often described as a cross between mango and avocado.
The taste is subtle but refreshing, and for many in the north, it is a seasonal delight that marks the beginning of the rains.
In rural communities, children are the first to take advantage of the bounty. At dawn, they collect fallen fruits under the trees, eating them on the way to school. Farmers, too keep a few in their pockets to snack on during long hours on the fields.
For older folks, the shea fruit brings back memories of childhood breakfasts and the joy of sharing food that cannot be stored or sold for long.
For others, the fruit is a seasonal business opportunity. Women and children often gather the fallen fruits and sell them in small bowls at local markets.
Rahama, a market woman at the Tamale Central market, said she sells a bowl of shea fruit for between GH¢5 and GH¢10, depending on the size.
She also mentioned that though the price is peanut, comparing the risk of gathering them in the bush, it helps to buy soap or pay for the children’s school needs.
“Shea butter brings bigger income later, but the fruit gives us quick cash,” she said.
Speaking to Musah Alhassan from Tolon, a 29-year-old farmer, he stated that he eats the fruit almost every day because of the health benefit.
He said, unlike sweets, it doesn’t leave you thirsty or tired during the season, saying that, “we grew up eating shea fruit every year. It makes you strong, gives you energy for the farm, and you hardly fall sick during the season.”
Mr Eric Banye, an Industry expert says the fruit deserves more recognition for its nutritional and economic potential. He also stated that the shea tree is celebrated globally for its butter, but the fruit is an overlooked treasure.
“It provides rural households with vitamins, quick income, and food security during the lean season. Promoting shea fruit consumption could add another dimension to the value chain while preserving cultural traditions,” he explained.
He stated that by continuous protection, over 5,000 hectares of shea trees destroyed annually for charcoal will be saved as the Northern region battles desertification.
Beyond its sweetness, the shea fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and potassium, which support immunity and heart health. It also contains natural antioxidants that help the body fight inflammation.
Furthermore, Mr Banye noted that, comparatively, the shea butter lasts for months, but the fruit must be eaten within days when it matures because it spoils quickly, making it a gift best enjoyed under the very tree that bore it.
This fleeting nature adds to its charm, reminding locals that the shea tree doesn’t only add economic resource but also a seasonal source of nourishment and pleasure.
In the rush for shea butter exports, the humble fruit is often overlooked. But in Northern Ghana, its short-lived sweetness, its hidden health benefits, and its modest economic value remain a cherished taste of home.
From: Geoffrey Buta, Tamale
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Construction of a major underground stormwater drain along the Dr. Busia Highway within the Kaneshie enclave will commence on September 7, 2026.
The Project Coordinator for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo, announced this at a special media briefing on Wednesday.
According to him, the works will involve the construction of a double-cell underground rectangular drain measuring approximately 10 metres wide and 1.95 kilometres long, stretching from Pamprom Junction to First Light Junction.
The new drain will replace the existing two 1.2-metre diameter pipes, which are inadequate to carry the volume of stormwater in the area.
Dr. Sarfo said the drain will connect at one end to the recently completed section within the Accra Academy campus and at the other end to the existing drain at Pamprom Junction.
He said the construction is expected to run from September 2026 to October 2027.
The project forms part of government’s broader flood prevention and mitigation programme aimed at addressing perennial flooding in Accra.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the party’s National Chairmanship race.
In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman Wontumi who is currently serving a 20-year jail term said his decision was driven by his love for the party and his unwillingness to let his personal circumstances distract the NPP from its rebuilding efforts.
“There are moments in the life of a man when the heart wants to continue, but duty demands sacrifice. Moments when one must quietly set aside personal ambition, not because the dream has died, but because the family he loves must not be made to carry his burden. Today, I find myself at such a painful moment,” he wrote.
He disclosed that after many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters, he concluded that his present situation must not become an additional burden on the NPP.
“This is not the decision my heart desired, but sometimes, true love requires us to release what we deeply want in order to protect what we love even more,” he added.
Recounting his years of service, Chairman Wontumi said he had served the party with everything within him, walking through heat and rain, travelling to remote communities and standing with the grassroots in both victory and defeat.
“For many years, I have served the NPP with everything within me… The NPP is not merely a political party to me. It is my family. It is my home. It is a cause to which I have dedicated a significant part of my life,” he stated.
He explained that the party, already carrying the pain of electoral defeat and the huge responsibility of preparing for the future, should not be made to carry his personal weight.
“That is why I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding. I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead. I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me,” he said.
He further sympathized with his supporters across the 16 regions, acknowledging that the decision would be painful for many who had sacrificed for his campaign.
“To my teeming supporters across all sixteen regions, I know this message will hurt. I know many of you will read it with tears in your eyes because I understand the sacrifices you have made for this journey,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
