YOUR IMPACT: Abdulai Fadila

Abdulai Fadila is a shea nut collector and shea butter producer from the Konjahie community in Ghana's Upper West Region. A mother of four, she works closely with other women in the Konjahie certified organic group — one of the producer groups connected to Baraka through the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre. Before Baraka arrived in her community, she supplemented her income by going into the bush to collect and sell firewood.

In this video, Abdulai speaks about how the Baraka relationship changed what work she does and how she earns. With Baraka providing a reliable market for shea nuts, she was able to shift her focus from firewood collection to shea nut picking — work that pays better, is part of a certified organic supply chain, and keeps more value in her community. She describes the change as one that has allowed her to earn what she needs to care for herself and her family.

Abdulai Fadila 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.

Abdulai's story also illustrates an environmental dimension that is easy to overlook. When a fair-trade market exists for a sustainably harvested product like shea nuts, women like Abdulai have less need to rely on forest resources like firewood. You can read more about what chain-of-custody means for natural ingredients, including how transparency in the supply chain connects purchasing decisions to outcomes like this one.

Over 90% of the people working with Baraka in Ghana are women. Every purchase supports their ability to work with dignity, earn a fair income, and build futures for their families. To understand the full scope of this work, you can read Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report, which details the cooperative's progress and the lives behind every batch.

You can also learn more through these related resources: the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre, the fair trade story behind Baraka's ingredients, and how handmade shea butter is made.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Abdulai Fadila and what does she do?

Abdulai Fadila is a shea nut collector and shea butter producer from the Konjahie community in Ghana's Upper West Region. She is a mother of four and works closely with other women in the Konjahie certified organic group, connected to Baraka through the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre. Before Baraka arrived, she collected and sold firewood to supplement her income. Baraka's reliable market for shea nuts gave her a better alternative.

What does Abdulai say about working with Baraka?

Abdulai speaks about a shift in how she earns. She previously went into the bush to collect firewood for sale because it was how she fed herself and her family. With Baraka's arrival, she was able to concentrate on shea nut picking instead — work that earns her enough to care for her household. For Abdulai, the Baraka relationship directly changed what she does every day and what she is able to provide.

Who makes Baraka shea butter?

Baraka shea butter is made by women at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region. Women like Abdulai Fadila hand-process shea nuts using traditional water-based methods passed down through generations — cracking, grinding, boiling, and skimming by hand, with zero chemical extraction. Baraka has maintained this direct cooperative relationship for over 15 years. More than 90% of the people working with Baraka in Ghana are women.

What is the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre?

The Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre is a women's cooperative in Ghana's Upper West Region through which Baraka sources its shea butter and other ingredients. It operates as a direct, fair-trade cooperative — producers receive a fair-trade premium without intermediaries. Baraka has worked directly with the centre for over 15 years. The cooperative connects multiple certified organic producer groups across the region, including the Konjahie group that Abdulai Fadila works with.

What does chain-of-custody mean for Baraka shea butter?

For Baraka, chain-of-custody means every step from shea nut harvest through processing, packing, and shipping is documented and traceable. This documentation is available for any order. It allows buyers — whether individuals or formulators — to verify that the ingredient was sourced ethically and without chemical extraction at any stage. Stories like Abdulai's are part of that transparency: they show what the supply chain looks like at the community level, not just on paper.

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.