YOUR IMPACT: Naa-Ema Abena

Naa-Ema Abena is a shea nut collector and shea butter producer from the Oli community in Ghana's Upper West Region. A mother of one, she works closely with other women in the Oli certified organic group — one of the producer groups connected to Baraka through the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre. Her work collecting and processing shea nuts is central to her household's livelihood and her contribution to the wider cooperative.

In this video, Naa-Ema speaks about a straightforward and specific change. She and her husband used to struggle financially. This year, the income from selling shea through Baraka was enough to fund their farm cultivation — something they had not been able to afford before. It is a simple and direct account of what a reliable, fair-paying buyer means for a young household trying to build its own stability.

Naa-Ema Abena 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.

Shea butter is commonly used for dry skin and helps maintain moisture. If you are looking to purchase shea butter and want to understand what to look for in a supplier, you can read the guide to where to buy shea butter, including what distinguishes direct-trade sources from commodity suppliers. The Oli group works within a certified organic system, meaning no pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals are used at any stage of harvest or processing.

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 Naa-Ema Abena and what does she do?

Naa-Ema Abena is a shea nut collector and shea butter producer from the Oli community in Ghana's Upper West Region. She is a mother of one and works closely with other women in the Oli certified organic group, connected to Baraka through the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre. Her work spans both the collection of wild shea nuts and their hand-processing into shea butter using traditional methods.

What does Naa-Ema say about working with Baraka?

Naa-Ema speaks about a specific and personal change. She and her husband used to struggle financially. This year, the income from selling shea through Baraka provided enough to fund their farm cultivation — something they had not previously been able to afford. It is a direct, first-person account of what fair shea butter income has made possible for her household in a single year.

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 Naa-Ema Abena 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 Oli group that Naa-Ema Abena works with.

What does certified organic mean for Baraka shea butter?

For the Oli group, certified organic means shea nuts are harvested and processed without pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, or solvents at any stage. The shea trees grow wild and are not cultivated, so the organic status reflects the harvesting and processing practices rather than controlled agriculture. Baraka's ingredients are produced without chemical extraction — hand-processed using traditional water-based methods — and chain-of-custody documentation is available for any order.

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.