Hamamat Montia honoured as Ghana’s Shea butter ambassador
Former beauty queen, Hamamat Montia has now added another prestigious title to her name as she has been officially unveiled as Ghana’s Shea Butter Ambassador.
The announcement was made at a special ceremony at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts (MoTCCA) in Accra on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, where she was honoured with a citation recognising her remarkable contribution to Ghana’s shea butter industry, culture, and women’s empowerment.
The event drew dignitaries, cultural practitioners, creatives, and media personalities, including the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto, Abeiku Santana, playwright Latif Abubakar, Daddy Bosco, George Quaye, among other industry players.
Recently, Hamamat’s work has been receiving international attention. Many fans watched as American social media streamer IShowSpeed visited her Shea Butter Museum, a moment that went viral and symbolized the global interest in Ghanaian tradition and entrepreneurship.
At the event, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts, said she was excited to appoint Hamamat Montia as Ghana’s Shea Butter Ambassador.
“It is not a side conversation in our national development. It is central to who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. I am, therefore, deeply honoured to preside over the appointment of Ms. Hammamat Montia as Culture Ambassador for Ghana Shea Butter by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
Ms. Hammamat embodies the essence of what cultural ambassadorial role means in the 21st century: authenticity, excellence and global relevance rooted firmly in African identity.
“Through her work, she has shown that indigenous knowledge, when properly valued and invested in, can compete confidently on the global stage”, she said.
She explained that Shea Butter is not just a cosmetic product, but a part of Ghanaian culture that supports women, rural communities, and the economy.
“Shea Butter is not merely a cosmetic product. It is culture in practice. It is wisdom of generations of women, the economy of rural communities and a powerful story of sustainability, wellness as well as African ingenuity.
“Around the world, countries that command respect, curiosity and economic advantage are those that have intentionally invested in their culture their food, their language, their dress and their stories,” she said.
She expressed her appreciation for being honoured as Ghana’s Shea Ambassador and recognized the responsibility it carries.
She called on cultural stakeholders, influencers like Wode Maya, and ambassadors like Hamamat Montia to tell Ghana's story of resilience and pride. Hamamat Montia shares a touching story about her grandmother, highlighting the value of tradition and intergenerational knowledge.
Hamamat Montia, pledges to champion the Shea Butter industry, highlighting its $2.62 billion global market value.
She stresses the need for Ghana to move beyond raw material exports and produce premium, ethical products, empowering local women and communities.
“The real question is: how much of that wealth belongs to us? We must move from supplying raw materials to producing premium, ethical African products. Ghana can lead the way”, she said.
She highlights the viral visit of IShowSpeed to the Shea Butter museum, saying it symbolized the global appeal and dignity of African tradition
“Recently, many of you saw our young brother, IShowSpeed, visit their Shea Butter museum. That moment was not just viral, it was symbolic. It showed the world the power, beauty, and dignity of African tradition. What they saw was not just entertainment, it was our heritage,” she added.
The ceremony included a short film titled The Hamamat Journey, cultural performances by the National Dance Ensemble, and a shea tasting session.
The Minister announced that Hamamat Montia will lead a Shea Butter cooking demonstration on March 14, Ghana Culture Day, as part of efforts to promote Ghanaian traditions and culture.
