Celebrating Mothers: Umuh Yakubu

Umuh Yakubu is a mother of five who works closely with other women in the Kperisi community in Ghana's Upper West Region. She is a shea butter producer and an active member of the local women's processing group connected to the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre cooperative.

In this video, Umuh speaks about how the income she earns from shea butter production allows her to provide for her family. She describes being able to afford nutritious food, healthcare, and keeping all five of her children in school so they can receive a proper education. Her story reflects what many mothers in the cooperative share: the direct connection between their work and their children's futures.

Umuh Yakubu is one of the women whose work makes Baraka shea butter possible. Baraka sources shea butter directly through the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region — a cooperative relationship maintained for over 15 years. Every batch is hand-processed using traditional water-based methods with zero chemical extraction, and complete chain-of-custody documentation is available for any order. The women who produce this ingredient receive a fair-trade premium directly, without intermediaries.

To better understand the ingredient at the centre of this story, explore How Handmade Shea Butter is Made and Shea Butter – The Ultimate DIY Ingredient. For parents and those expecting, see Shea Butter for Babies and DIY Stretch Mark Cream.

Learn more about how these ingredients are made and the cooperative behind them by reading Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report.

FAQ

Who is Umuh Yakubu and what does she do?

Umuh Yakubu is a mother of five and a shea butter producer in the Kperisi community of Ghana's Upper West Region. She works with other women in a local processing group connected to the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre cooperative. Her work allows her to earn income that supports her family's food, healthcare, and her children's education.

Where does Umuh Yakubu work and what cooperative is she part of?

Umuh works in the Kperisi community in Ghana's Upper West Region. She is part of the network of women's groups connected to the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre, which has maintained a direct cooperative relationship with Baraka for over 15 years. The women in these groups hand-process shea butter using traditional methods passed down through generations.

What does Umuh Yakubu say about working with Baraka?

Umuh explains that the income from shea butter production has transformed her ability to care for her family. She emphasises that she can now provide nutritious food and healthcare, but what matters most to her is keeping all five of her children in school. Her perspective reflects the shared experience of many mothers in the cooperative who see their work as directly connected to their children's futures.

Is shea butter safe for babies and during pregnancy?

Yes, shea butter is commonly used on baby skin and during pregnancy. Baraka shea butter is pure and unrefined, produced without synthetic additives, fragrances, or chemical solvents at any stage of processing. It is hand-processed using traditional water-based methods, which means nothing is added and nothing artificial remains in the finished ingredient. As with any new skincare product, a patch test is recommended before first use. Those with high-risk pregnancies should consult a healthcare provider before introducing new topical ingredients.

What does chain-of-custody mean for natural ingredients?

For Baraka, chain-of-custody means every step from shea nut harvest through processing, packing, and shipping is documented and traceable. This allows Baraka to verify that ingredients come from the specific women and communities they partner with, and that traditional processing methods were used throughout. Complete documentation is available for any order, providing full transparency from the shea tree to the finished ingredient.

About the Author
Wayne Dunn is the founder of Baraka Impact and a former Professor of Practice in Sustainability at McGill University. He holds an M.Sc. in Management from Stanford and has spent over 15 years working directly with the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region to source traditionally made shea butter and natural oils. He shares DIY skincare recipes and ingredient guides designed to be made at home with real ingredients — and sourced with full transparency about where they come from.