The Shea tree, which is now referred to as''VitellariaParadoxa'', has\nenormous economic, medicinal, cultural benefits and as a food source. Yet it\nseems the mechanisms put in place to support the Shea butter industryare\neither not existing or they are inadequate in Ghana.Even though this is the\ngeneral situation,the quantum of the industry�s contribution to women\nlivelihood, the specific social and economic effects and the mechanisms\ncreated to support women in the industry are yet to be empirically\ninvestigated in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region.The study\ntherefore sought to address what the contribution of the Shea butter\nprocessing industry in promoting the socio-economic development of women\nand their livelihood has been in the Wa Municipality, the nature of the social\nand economic effects on the livelihood of women; the specific mechanisms\nput in place as support for women in the industry as well as the nature of the\nindustry�s prospects and challenges in Wa Municipal area.A case study\napproach was adopted.The research revealed that only women areemployed\nin the Shea butter processing industry. The studyalso revealed that there are\nfew organizations providing financial and technical support to the women in\nShea butter production in the Wa Municipality. Through Shea butter processing, the women have secure employment which provided them with\nincome for the satisfaction of their basic needs. Ready market was identified\nas a major constraint. The intensive use of firewood produced wood smoke\nwhich caused respiratory infections such as severe cough, lung infections,\nrunning nose, nasal congestion, headaches, low-grade fever, sneezing, and\noptical disorders among the women.
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