President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the SheaPark Resource Hub at the Wa Naa’s Palace, aimed at boosting the local economy and fostering industrial development in the Upper West Region.
The launch, which took place on January 31, 2026, is designed to revitalise the regional economy through industrialisation and value addition within the shea sector, positioning the Upper West Region as a key contributor to Ghana’s broader agro-industrial transformation agenda.
Emphasising the importance of adding value to local resources, President Mahama highlighted the potential for job creation, income generation, and poverty reduction, particularly in historically underserved regions.
The President reacted to IShowSpeed’s Ghana visit, humorously noting his kids introduced him to the YouTuber’s 28-day Africa tour and hinting the streamer will have a great experience that will make him return.
To him, the visit by the global streamer to the Shea Butter Museum in Accra was an experience that has since become a case study in cultural marketing and tourism.
President Mahama revealed that his children were all excited about the visit with Ibe, with one of his children showing him a clip of Speed at the museum, which is owned by Ghanaian entrepreneur and former beauty queen Hamamat Montia.
“Recently, my children were all excited about some young man from America called IShowSpeed, who came to Ghana,” Mahama said with a chuckle. “And one of my children showed me a video of him in a shea butter museum of some sort.”
“I saw him lying down, and about 10 girls, all with shea butter, were massaging this boy. And the way he was enjoying it, he opened his mouth as if he couldn’t breathe. That guy, I’m sure he’ll come back here,” President Mahama added.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin described the occasion as a ‘royal honour and blessing’, commending the organisers for being part of a historic intervention.
He noted that the SheaPark Resource Hub represents a critical development pathway for the Upper West Region and the country, marking an important milestone in efforts to resuscitate the regional economy through sustainable, inclusive, and community-driven development.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including His Royal Highness Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, Paramount Chief of Wa; the Member of Parliament for Wa Central; parliamentary and presidential staffers; regional ministers; municipal and district chief executives; and other distinguished guests from across the region and beyond.
