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Hands of gold – shea butter farmers

Upper East Ghana, Africa

Shea butter is in demand. Yet the women who produce it make very little money. What’s more, poor working conditions mean many of them are not fit to work by their 40s. So, what can we do? We’ve documented the current situation to galvanise support from those who can help. We are contributing our occupational safety and health (OSH) expertise while working alongside our partners to make these women’s lives safer and healthier.

This short film, Hands of Gold 2, gives an overview of progress made in the shea butter community.

These are based on the risk assessment recommendations for a safer and healthier working life for the shea butter workers and include both short- and long-term targets. You can download the risk assessment at the bottom of this page.

Provide workers with the tools and facilities to conduct their work in a safe and healthy way.

"The crushing part is very difficult for us because our hands and shoulders really hurt. Sometimes you accidentally hit your finger and you can't continue working."

Job role
Company

Who is involved

  • Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW-Africa)
  • Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC)
  • Embassy of Germany
  • Government of Ghana
  • International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • International Social Security Association (ISSA)
  • IOSH consultants
  • Local IOSH members
  • Rotary Club
  • Shea butter farmers and textile weavers
  • UK High Commission Ghana
  • United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
  • Local occupational safety and health experts and IOSH members conducted an impartial risk assessment to assess the current conditions (July).
Female worker stirs a pot containing the shea butter mush

We welcome your support in helping people stay safe at work. It can change the lives of the most vulnerable workers. Find out more about these projects and the work we are doing.