Kumasi, Ghana, July 1, 2019//-The Co-Chairman of the Technical Committee of Forest Industries Association of Ghana (FIAG), Gustav Adu, has lamented over the alarming rate of the depleting timber resources in the country.
This development if not addressed would have dire consequences in the West African country, according to him.
Ghana is running short of timber resources, Mr Adu stated.
He made the frightening revelation at a ceremony to outdoor a ten -member governing board members of FIAG in Kumasi in the Ashanti regional capital.
Gustav Adu also revealed that, they have realised a decline trend in timber production, which has been a concern amongst the FIAG and other stakeholders in the sector.
According to him; “For now, what we have realised is that, the kind of timber that we all prefer to use; Odum, Sapele and the like are all dwindling, and timber workers must have the technical knowledge on how to use the new ones and then as a nation we have to protect our resource.”
Mr Adu noted that the stakeholders were of the opinion that coming together to have one mouthpiece would not only enable them to consult amongst themselves but would give them the opportunity to find innovative ways of reviving the timber industry.
Instructively, FIAG is amalgamation of Ghana Timber Association (GTA), Ghana Timber Millers Organisation (GTMO), National Association of Handicraft Exporters (NAHE), Domestic Lumber Traders Association (DOLMAG), Kumasi Wood Cluster Association (KWC), Furniture and Wood Products Association of Ghana (FAWAG), Wood Workers Association of Ghana (WAG),Ghana Sawn Timber Sellers Association (GSTSA) and Canoe Carvers Association (CCA).
It would be recalled that to address the issues facing the timber industry that in 2002, the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) was established.
It was among others to provide management and technical training for the wood industry and undertake the certification and registration of authorised timber graders and establish levels of certification for such graders; and provides development signals to the industry and advises government on the adoption of appropriate incentive to foster efficiency and value addition.
By Oppong Baah, African Eye Report
