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31-10-08
FIFTEEN timber companies operating in the country have called for investigations into the allocation of timber rights by the Forestry Commission.
The companies made the call as a result of what they claimed was the illegal deals being carried out by the commission in the allocation of timber rights.
The companies are In God’s Service Company Limited, Aframco Limited, Carlnormal Limited, House of Kay, Unclewad Company Limited, Tiger Exports Limited, Talento Limited and Belltop Company Limited.
The rest are Isbeg Company Limited, Ghana Tropical Limited, Nkebright Agencies, B.MS. Limited, Engineering and Technical Limited, Jeewap Company Limited and Alacraty International.
Addressing the press in Accra yesterday, the spokesperson of the aggrieved companies, Mr Bright Nkeyasen, said the Forestry Commission had allocated plantations to more than 40 companies illegally at the price of GH¢140.00, 50 per cent less than the prices won during the bidding for the plantations.
Some foreign companies, he alleged, had been allocated plantations/lots without due process, which required that there should be competitive bidding.
“The Ghana-Ivory Coast boundary trees were also allocated illegally to only two companies at GH¢ 95.00 per cubic metre. Total volume of these materials illegally allocated at cheap prices amounted to over 100,000 cubic metres of plantation timber all going to the world markets,” he alleged.
He said such acts of sabotage undermined the letter and spirit of the competitive bidding process thereby making “those of us who won the lots/plantations legally uncompetitive on the world markets”.
Mr Nkeyasen said in 2003, the government enacted a law that regulated timber allocation in the country, and that the law brought sanity and fairness into timber allocation, saying that the Law, LI 1721, spelt out general procedures for allocation of timber rights.
To pre-qualify to enter into the bidding process, companies had to be registered in accordance with the law of the country, meet all tax obligations and must not be indebted to the commission.
The 15 companies, he said, were the bid winners of the 2007 competitive bidding organised by the Forestry Commission, and that 24 lots or plantations were advertised for pre-qualification.
Mr Nkeyasen explained that after the pre-qualification process, as “we prepare for the actual bidding, three big lots were removed from the list namely lots 4, 8 and 10, totalling 35,000 cubic metres.
“When we asked why these three lots were removed from the list, Forestry Commission reply was that they were not going to sell them due to environmental and security concerns,” he said.
He explained further that prices won for the lots/plantations ranged between GH¢250 and GH¢350 per cubic metre, bringing the total price for the remaining 23 lots to GH¢ 23,958,392, and that two weeks after the competitive bidding, “the three lots which were removed from the list due to environmental and security reasons, were allocated to a foreign company based in Singapore at the price GH¢140.00 per cubic metre, which is less than 50 per cent of prices won at the bidding, without passing through competitive bidding process as required by law”.
Mr Nkeyasen also called on the government to revoke all illegal licence and permits issued by the commission.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Prez inaugurates A-Poly block of flats
Page 3
30-10-08
President J. A. Kufuor yesterday inaugurated a number of facilities at the Accra Polytechnic to enhance effective teaching and learning there.
The projects, which were financed through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the polytechnic’s internally generated funds, were a five-storey block of 20 three-bedroom flats, a five-storey block of 20 two-bedroom flats, a five-storey block comprising two-bedroom flats and a five-storey block of 20 one-bedroom flats.
The rest were a water supply and distribution system on campus, block to house the Bachelor of Technology and a library, an Electrical and Electronic Engineering block and a 500 KVA electricity generating plant.
The accommodation facilities will be occupied by about 80 members of staff of the polytechnic who, hitherto, had to commute from long distances to school.
Performing the inauguration ceremony, President Kufuor said never had such massive infrastructural development taken place in the polytechnics in the country within a short time.
That, according to him, was the extent of the government’s commitment to higher education and the development of polytechnics in general.
He commended the authorities of the polytechnic for using its limited space to put up such facilities.
He said although the population was increasing, land was not, and, therefore, stressed the need for those in the capital to be economical in the use of space for providing accommodation.
“You have demonstrated by the construction of these tall structures that we can satisfy the demand for accommodation in a confined space without sacrificing aesthetic considerations. Your buildings help to brighten the capital’s skyline to add to the city’s beauty,” he stated.
President Kufuor said polytechnics occupied a significant place in the tertiary educational sector, since their mandate was “to provide training of a kind that does not obtain anywhere else in the sector”.
Beyond the traditional Higher National Diploma (HND), he said, the legal instrument provided polytechnic education now opened up the possibilities of training at the level of bachelor’s degree and beyond, adding that “it is possible to start at one type of institution to complete at another, transferring grades”.
Commenting on the forthcoming elections, he urged the staff and students to ensure that their utterances and actions, both on campus and within their communities, would be aimed at promoting free, fair and credible elections, to which the government was committed.
He said as role models, they were in a position to help make the elections successful.
The Rector of the Accra Polytechnic, Prof Festus Addo-Yobo, commended the government for funding the projects, saying that “these demonstrate the government’s positive attitude towards teaching and research in the Applied Sciences and Technology and Applied Arts and the provision of technical skills within the polytechnics”.
He said the polytechnic had responded positively to the government’s assistance by setting a target to become a world-class polytechnic, adding that the projects would go a long way to help it to achieve its ambitions.
Prof Addo-Yobo appealed to the government to assist the polytechnic to acquire land for the construction of hostel facilities outside the campus to provide more accommodation facilities for its students.
The Chairman of the Polytechnic Council, Mr Napoleon Bulley, who chaired the function, described the provision of the facilities as historic.
30-10-08
President J. A. Kufuor yesterday inaugurated a number of facilities at the Accra Polytechnic to enhance effective teaching and learning there.
The projects, which were financed through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the polytechnic’s internally generated funds, were a five-storey block of 20 three-bedroom flats, a five-storey block of 20 two-bedroom flats, a five-storey block comprising two-bedroom flats and a five-storey block of 20 one-bedroom flats.
The rest were a water supply and distribution system on campus, block to house the Bachelor of Technology and a library, an Electrical and Electronic Engineering block and a 500 KVA electricity generating plant.
The accommodation facilities will be occupied by about 80 members of staff of the polytechnic who, hitherto, had to commute from long distances to school.
Performing the inauguration ceremony, President Kufuor said never had such massive infrastructural development taken place in the polytechnics in the country within a short time.
That, according to him, was the extent of the government’s commitment to higher education and the development of polytechnics in general.
He commended the authorities of the polytechnic for using its limited space to put up such facilities.
He said although the population was increasing, land was not, and, therefore, stressed the need for those in the capital to be economical in the use of space for providing accommodation.
“You have demonstrated by the construction of these tall structures that we can satisfy the demand for accommodation in a confined space without sacrificing aesthetic considerations. Your buildings help to brighten the capital’s skyline to add to the city’s beauty,” he stated.
President Kufuor said polytechnics occupied a significant place in the tertiary educational sector, since their mandate was “to provide training of a kind that does not obtain anywhere else in the sector”.
Beyond the traditional Higher National Diploma (HND), he said, the legal instrument provided polytechnic education now opened up the possibilities of training at the level of bachelor’s degree and beyond, adding that “it is possible to start at one type of institution to complete at another, transferring grades”.
Commenting on the forthcoming elections, he urged the staff and students to ensure that their utterances and actions, both on campus and within their communities, would be aimed at promoting free, fair and credible elections, to which the government was committed.
He said as role models, they were in a position to help make the elections successful.
The Rector of the Accra Polytechnic, Prof Festus Addo-Yobo, commended the government for funding the projects, saying that “these demonstrate the government’s positive attitude towards teaching and research in the Applied Sciences and Technology and Applied Arts and the provision of technical skills within the polytechnics”.
He said the polytechnic had responded positively to the government’s assistance by setting a target to become a world-class polytechnic, adding that the projects would go a long way to help it to achieve its ambitions.
Prof Addo-Yobo appealed to the government to assist the polytechnic to acquire land for the construction of hostel facilities outside the campus to provide more accommodation facilities for its students.
The Chairman of the Polytechnic Council, Mr Napoleon Bulley, who chaired the function, described the provision of the facilities as historic.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wanton destruction of trees deplored
29-10-08
Page 30
PARTICIPANTS at a seminar on 100 years of forestry in Ghana at the Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX 2008) have deplored the wanton destruction and cutting of trees in urban areas for commercial activities.
They said such destruction was seriously affecting the ecology. They therefore called on the authorities concerned to enforce by-laws in regard to the destruction of trees in urban areas.
“We have failed in our urban plantation development”, the Technical Director of the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Fredua Agyeman, summed up the views of the participants.
A former Dean of the Institute for Renewable and Natural Resources, Mr J. G. K. Owusu, who set the tone for the discussion on the subject, said little was being done about urban plantation development.
He said apart from the streets, trees around some schools had been cut, thereby defeating the purpose for which they were planted in the first place.
He stressed the need for people to plant trees around their houses to provide greenery and that people should not only plant trees for economic reasons but also to maintain the ecological balance.
In a keynote address, the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Professor Nii Ashie Kotey, stressed the need for innovation and pooling of resources to meet future challenges in the timber industry so the country could remain competitive in the global village.
A Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr E. A. Abeney, said forest standards require sound environmental practices.
Page 30
PARTICIPANTS at a seminar on 100 years of forestry in Ghana at the Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX 2008) have deplored the wanton destruction and cutting of trees in urban areas for commercial activities.
They said such destruction was seriously affecting the ecology. They therefore called on the authorities concerned to enforce by-laws in regard to the destruction of trees in urban areas.
“We have failed in our urban plantation development”, the Technical Director of the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Fredua Agyeman, summed up the views of the participants.
A former Dean of the Institute for Renewable and Natural Resources, Mr J. G. K. Owusu, who set the tone for the discussion on the subject, said little was being done about urban plantation development.
He said apart from the streets, trees around some schools had been cut, thereby defeating the purpose for which they were planted in the first place.
He stressed the need for people to plant trees around their houses to provide greenery and that people should not only plant trees for economic reasons but also to maintain the ecological balance.
In a keynote address, the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Professor Nii Ashie Kotey, stressed the need for innovation and pooling of resources to meet future challenges in the timber industry so the country could remain competitive in the global village.
A Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr E. A. Abeney, said forest standards require sound environmental practices.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Ghana's forest depleting at alarming rate
Page 38
27-10-08
ABOUT eighty-five per cent of Ghana’s forest reserve has been depleted, leaving only 15 per cent in good condition, Dr Daniel Sekyere, Deputy Director of the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) has stated.
This, he said, was due to unsustainable agriculture practices, illegal farming practices, poor logging practices, over-exploitation, illegal chainsaw lumbering and mining and firewood extraction.
He said for instance, that the country consumed between 10-16 million cubic meters of fuel wood annually.
Dr Sekyere was presenting a paper on “100 Years of Forestry in Ghana: CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana’s Contribution Towards National Development” as part of the Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX 2008) in Accra.
The impact of forest degradation, he said, included soil erosion, formation of hardpan, decline in water volume in rivers, streams, lakes and dams, deterioration of water quality, wind damage to crops and buildings, air pollution and global warming and climate change.
Dr Sekyere said the country’s potential forest zone covered 8.2 million hectares while 1.7 million hectares were under forest reservation and the remaining 6.5 million used for agriculture, settlements, roads and railways.
According to him, more than 70 per cent of the non-reserved forest had been lost over the last 100 years, leaving only 15 per cent in good condition.
He noted that FORIG had instituted various interventions, including restoration of degraded forest, large scale plantation and efficient utilisation of forest products to arrest forest degradation.
Dr Sekyere said the mandate of the institute was to undertake forest products research to ensure sustainable management and utilisation of the country’s forest resources as well as engage in the commercialisation of the research results and services.
He said CSIR-FORIG had a vision of becoming a centre of excellence in Forestry Research in the humid tropics, adding that the mission was to conduct high quality user-focused research that generated scientific knowledge and appropriate technologies which enhanced sustainable development.
FORIG’s contribution to sustainable forest management, he said, included the development of methods of rehabilitating mined and degraded sites, development of biodiversity conservation methods and establishment of Bambusetum containing fifteen (15) indigenous and exotic species.
“I believe that if our research findings are applied diligently, we will create greater impact and more value for our stakeholders, reinvigorate our research and help contribute to a sustainable environment and improved livelihoods for the good people of Ghana,” he said.
Dr Sekyere said FORIG’s contribution to plantation development were the development of techniques for establishment of woodlots in the derived savannah agro-ecological zones in the country, establishment of economics of plantation development, improved seeds and seedlings for planting and vegetation propagation techniques for species such as Wawa, Odum and Kusia.
The efficient utilisation of forest products, he said, drying and preservative schedules for a number of tree species, development of technologies for pulp and paper production from indigenous plant species, physical, mechanical, anatomical and working characteristics of a number of species, utilisation of lesser-used species and suitability of various species for composite products manufacturing.
Dr Ernest G. Foli of FORIG said the timber trade in Ghana began well over 100 years ago and that only a few species, mainly Mahogany, Odum, Sapele, Wawa, among others, were of interest in those early days.
Until about 1990, he said, less than 20 timber species were considered as species of ‘prime’ commercial value.
27-10-08
ABOUT eighty-five per cent of Ghana’s forest reserve has been depleted, leaving only 15 per cent in good condition, Dr Daniel Sekyere, Deputy Director of the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) has stated.
This, he said, was due to unsustainable agriculture practices, illegal farming practices, poor logging practices, over-exploitation, illegal chainsaw lumbering and mining and firewood extraction.
He said for instance, that the country consumed between 10-16 million cubic meters of fuel wood annually.
Dr Sekyere was presenting a paper on “100 Years of Forestry in Ghana: CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana’s Contribution Towards National Development” as part of the Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX 2008) in Accra.
The impact of forest degradation, he said, included soil erosion, formation of hardpan, decline in water volume in rivers, streams, lakes and dams, deterioration of water quality, wind damage to crops and buildings, air pollution and global warming and climate change.
Dr Sekyere said the country’s potential forest zone covered 8.2 million hectares while 1.7 million hectares were under forest reservation and the remaining 6.5 million used for agriculture, settlements, roads and railways.
According to him, more than 70 per cent of the non-reserved forest had been lost over the last 100 years, leaving only 15 per cent in good condition.
He noted that FORIG had instituted various interventions, including restoration of degraded forest, large scale plantation and efficient utilisation of forest products to arrest forest degradation.
Dr Sekyere said the mandate of the institute was to undertake forest products research to ensure sustainable management and utilisation of the country’s forest resources as well as engage in the commercialisation of the research results and services.
He said CSIR-FORIG had a vision of becoming a centre of excellence in Forestry Research in the humid tropics, adding that the mission was to conduct high quality user-focused research that generated scientific knowledge and appropriate technologies which enhanced sustainable development.
FORIG’s contribution to sustainable forest management, he said, included the development of methods of rehabilitating mined and degraded sites, development of biodiversity conservation methods and establishment of Bambusetum containing fifteen (15) indigenous and exotic species.
“I believe that if our research findings are applied diligently, we will create greater impact and more value for our stakeholders, reinvigorate our research and help contribute to a sustainable environment and improved livelihoods for the good people of Ghana,” he said.
Dr Sekyere said FORIG’s contribution to plantation development were the development of techniques for establishment of woodlots in the derived savannah agro-ecological zones in the country, establishment of economics of plantation development, improved seeds and seedlings for planting and vegetation propagation techniques for species such as Wawa, Odum and Kusia.
The efficient utilisation of forest products, he said, drying and preservative schedules for a number of tree species, development of technologies for pulp and paper production from indigenous plant species, physical, mechanical, anatomical and working characteristics of a number of species, utilisation of lesser-used species and suitability of various species for composite products manufacturing.
Dr Ernest G. Foli of FORIG said the timber trade in Ghana began well over 100 years ago and that only a few species, mainly Mahogany, Odum, Sapele, Wawa, among others, were of interest in those early days.
Until about 1990, he said, less than 20 timber species were considered as species of ‘prime’ commercial value.
New wood species for manufacturing identified
Page 46
27-10-08
THE Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of the Forestry Commission (FC) has identified seven additional wood species of commercial and industrial value.
Among other industrial purposes, the wood species, according to the TIDD, can be used for panelling, furniture, flooring, mouldings, structural work, door, decorative veneer and plywood, for the local and international markets.
The seven species bring to 28 the number of wood species in Ghana that are used for manufacturing purposes.
They are Asoma, Yayaa, Wawabima, Ananta, Avodire, Sinduro, Ohaa and Watawpuo.
A Trade and Industry Officer at the TIDD, Mr R.A. Dadzie, made this known to the Daily Graphic at the ongoing Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX) at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre.
He gave the National Indicative Felling Levels (NIFLs) of the species as Asoma, 17,592 cubic metres; Yayaa, 4,678 cubic metres; Wawabima, 12,874 cubic metres; Ananta, 12,327; Sinduro, 6,128 cubic metres; Ohaa, 4,140 cubic metres and Watawpuo, 9,774.
He said the Division was going to promote the species to individuals, firms and organisations, adding that the ultimate aim of the TIDD was to ensure maximum returns from the sale of wood products.
Mr Dadzie said an amount of €184.17 million was realised from the export of 528,570 cubic metres of wood products from January to December, last year, and that for the same period in 2006, an amount of €170.10 million was generated.
According to him, the TIDD had targeted to generate €200 million by the end of this year, adding that the Division was able to rake in €96 million in the first half of the year.
In a related development, the Wildlife Division of the FC underscored the need for Ghanaians to undertake activities that would protect the environment for future generations.
The Public Relations Manager of the Division, Mrs Vivian A.N. Nuhu, expressed concerns about the way some people were treating the environment, thereby threatening the survival of some animal and plant species.
She noted that wildlife is not only about dangerous animals but also about living creatures like ants and butterflies.
Mr Emmanuel K.K. Mensah, Assistant Public Relations Manager of the Forestry Commission, stressed the need for people living in a particular area to embark on community forestry because of its potential to transform their lives and environment.
An official of the FC, Mr Daniel Mensah, who was manning the Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) stand at the fair, said the centre was the technical wing of the FC.
He said it was responsible for the exploration, development, facilitation, institutionalisation, implementation and monitoring of effective and affordable forest and wildlife management system in the country in accordance with the national forest and wildlife policy.
He said the objectives included accelerating improved operational capacity of the FC, enhance operational capacity and facilitate accelerated preparation and implementation of management plans.
27-10-08
THE Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of the Forestry Commission (FC) has identified seven additional wood species of commercial and industrial value.
Among other industrial purposes, the wood species, according to the TIDD, can be used for panelling, furniture, flooring, mouldings, structural work, door, decorative veneer and plywood, for the local and international markets.
The seven species bring to 28 the number of wood species in Ghana that are used for manufacturing purposes.
They are Asoma, Yayaa, Wawabima, Ananta, Avodire, Sinduro, Ohaa and Watawpuo.
A Trade and Industry Officer at the TIDD, Mr R.A. Dadzie, made this known to the Daily Graphic at the ongoing Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX) at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre.
He gave the National Indicative Felling Levels (NIFLs) of the species as Asoma, 17,592 cubic metres; Yayaa, 4,678 cubic metres; Wawabima, 12,874 cubic metres; Ananta, 12,327; Sinduro, 6,128 cubic metres; Ohaa, 4,140 cubic metres and Watawpuo, 9,774.
He said the Division was going to promote the species to individuals, firms and organisations, adding that the ultimate aim of the TIDD was to ensure maximum returns from the sale of wood products.
Mr Dadzie said an amount of €184.17 million was realised from the export of 528,570 cubic metres of wood products from January to December, last year, and that for the same period in 2006, an amount of €170.10 million was generated.
According to him, the TIDD had targeted to generate €200 million by the end of this year, adding that the Division was able to rake in €96 million in the first half of the year.
In a related development, the Wildlife Division of the FC underscored the need for Ghanaians to undertake activities that would protect the environment for future generations.
The Public Relations Manager of the Division, Mrs Vivian A.N. Nuhu, expressed concerns about the way some people were treating the environment, thereby threatening the survival of some animal and plant species.
She noted that wildlife is not only about dangerous animals but also about living creatures like ants and butterflies.
Mr Emmanuel K.K. Mensah, Assistant Public Relations Manager of the Forestry Commission, stressed the need for people living in a particular area to embark on community forestry because of its potential to transform their lives and environment.
An official of the FC, Mr Daniel Mensah, who was manning the Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) stand at the fair, said the centre was the technical wing of the FC.
He said it was responsible for the exploration, development, facilitation, institutionalisation, implementation and monitoring of effective and affordable forest and wildlife management system in the country in accordance with the national forest and wildlife policy.
He said the objectives included accelerating improved operational capacity of the FC, enhance operational capacity and facilitate accelerated preparation and implementation of management plans.
DDP constructs canopy walkway
Page 55
27-10-08
A MINIATURE canopy walkway is to be mounted in the Achimota Forest as part of efforts to boost tourism in the city.
The walkway, which will be six metres high and 25 metres long, is being built as part of the ongoing Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX 2008) by DDP Outdoor Limited.
The Public Relations Manager of the Wildlife Division, Mrs Vivian A.N. Nuhu, told the Daily Graphic on Saturday that having a canopy walkway in the Achimota Forest would boost visits to the area, especially the zoo that was being built there.
She said although the walkway would be permanently in the forest, “we will see whether or not it will be possible to bring it to the Trade Fair Centre during fairs for people to have a feel of it”.
There is one of such facility at the Kakum National Park in the Central Region.
She said once the walkway was mounted, visitors to the area would pay something little to have access to it, adding that using the canopy walkway in the Achimota forest could help build the confidence of people in using the canopy walkway at the Kakum Park.
She said the walkway should have been used for the GIFEX, saying it was, however, not late for subsequent events.
Mrs Nuhu said a new zoo was currently being built in the forest following the relocation of animals to the Kumasi Zoo, adding that the zoo would cover 40 hectares of the forest.
According to her, the Wildlife Division had 100.2 hectares in the area and that it was out of that that the 40 hectares was being used for the zoo.
She described the Achimota Forest as complex, with a part of it functioning as ‘the lung of Accra’, while it had rare fruits and wildlife in it.
Mrs Nuhu indicated that ponds for crocodiles, as part of the zoo, had been developed, while there were grasscutters, ostriches and camels donated by the Libyan government.
27-10-08
A MINIATURE canopy walkway is to be mounted in the Achimota Forest as part of efforts to boost tourism in the city.
The walkway, which will be six metres high and 25 metres long, is being built as part of the ongoing Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX 2008) by DDP Outdoor Limited.
The Public Relations Manager of the Wildlife Division, Mrs Vivian A.N. Nuhu, told the Daily Graphic on Saturday that having a canopy walkway in the Achimota Forest would boost visits to the area, especially the zoo that was being built there.
She said although the walkway would be permanently in the forest, “we will see whether or not it will be possible to bring it to the Trade Fair Centre during fairs for people to have a feel of it”.
There is one of such facility at the Kakum National Park in the Central Region.
She said once the walkway was mounted, visitors to the area would pay something little to have access to it, adding that using the canopy walkway in the Achimota forest could help build the confidence of people in using the canopy walkway at the Kakum Park.
She said the walkway should have been used for the GIFEX, saying it was, however, not late for subsequent events.
Mrs Nuhu said a new zoo was currently being built in the forest following the relocation of animals to the Kumasi Zoo, adding that the zoo would cover 40 hectares of the forest.
According to her, the Wildlife Division had 100.2 hectares in the area and that it was out of that that the 40 hectares was being used for the zoo.
She described the Achimota Forest as complex, with a part of it functioning as ‘the lung of Accra’, while it had rare fruits and wildlife in it.
Mrs Nuhu indicated that ponds for crocodiles, as part of the zoo, had been developed, while there were grasscutters, ostriches and camels donated by the Libyan government.
WITC develops smoke dryer
25-10-08
Page 18
THE Wood Industries Training Centre (WITC) has developed a smoke dryer facility that uses saw dust for the drying of wood products instead of electricity.
The facility, which is suitable for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), is affordable and easy to use.
“The smoke dryer is user-friendly and does not pollute the environment, Mr George Zowonu, Public Relations Office of the WITC, told the Daily Graphic at the 2008 Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX) at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra.
He noted that SMEs spent a lot of money in drying their wood and that “we have developed this facility to cut cost”.
He said the centre was holding workshops with SMEs to educate them on the use and manufacture of the facility to enable them to reduce their (SMEs) operational costs.
“This facility would go a long way to help reduce the operational costs of SMEs,” he emphasised.
According to him, every wood species had its moisture content and that the wood was supposed to be dry to meet the appropriate moisture content depending on its use.
Mr Zowonu indicated that the centre provided technical training to people irrespective of their category in the wood industry, and that in addition to the provision of training, the centre, among others, manufactured tongue and groove (T&G) wood products for panels and ceilings things.
He disclosed that the name of the centre would be changed to Timber Technology Centre as a result of changes in technology so as to bring it up to the expected standard.
With its primary focus on capacity building, human resource development and institutional strengthening, the centre offers a wide range of supporting services to those involved in downstream wood processing.
In addition to its core activities, Mr Zowonu said the centre provided extension and consultancy to the timber industry in sawdoctoring and wood processing, among other services.
Over the last 12 years, WITC had earned a reputation as a centre of excellence for training, consultancy in the timber industry, as well as other timber-related sectors in the country.
It is staffed with highly experienced and committed people, who share the core belief that progress in the timber industry can only be achieved through capacity building and by working in partnership with clients and stakeholders.
Page 18
THE Wood Industries Training Centre (WITC) has developed a smoke dryer facility that uses saw dust for the drying of wood products instead of electricity.
The facility, which is suitable for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), is affordable and easy to use.
“The smoke dryer is user-friendly and does not pollute the environment, Mr George Zowonu, Public Relations Office of the WITC, told the Daily Graphic at the 2008 Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Exhibition (GIFEX) at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra.
He noted that SMEs spent a lot of money in drying their wood and that “we have developed this facility to cut cost”.
He said the centre was holding workshops with SMEs to educate them on the use and manufacture of the facility to enable them to reduce their (SMEs) operational costs.
“This facility would go a long way to help reduce the operational costs of SMEs,” he emphasised.
According to him, every wood species had its moisture content and that the wood was supposed to be dry to meet the appropriate moisture content depending on its use.
Mr Zowonu indicated that the centre provided technical training to people irrespective of their category in the wood industry, and that in addition to the provision of training, the centre, among others, manufactured tongue and groove (T&G) wood products for panels and ceilings things.
He disclosed that the name of the centre would be changed to Timber Technology Centre as a result of changes in technology so as to bring it up to the expected standard.
With its primary focus on capacity building, human resource development and institutional strengthening, the centre offers a wide range of supporting services to those involved in downstream wood processing.
In addition to its core activities, Mr Zowonu said the centre provided extension and consultancy to the timber industry in sawdoctoring and wood processing, among other services.
Over the last 12 years, WITC had earned a reputation as a centre of excellence for training, consultancy in the timber industry, as well as other timber-related sectors in the country.
It is staffed with highly experienced and committed people, who share the core belief that progress in the timber industry can only be achieved through capacity building and by working in partnership with clients and stakeholders.
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