FORIG inaugurates permanent exhibition centre

Fumesua (Ash), Aug 13, GNA - Professor Owusu Bennoah, Director-General of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has commended the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) for conducting studies toward the development of the forestry sector. He urged the private sector and relevant stakeholders to support the Institute and come out with new technologies in the face of the dwindling forest cover due resulting from industrial activities. Prof Bennoah was speaking at the inauguration of a new Permanent Exhibition Centre constructed by FORIG to showcase its research findings at Fumesua near Kumasi at the weekend. The project was funded from FORIG's internal generated funds at the cost of 490 million cedis.

He, however, advised the staff not to be complacent but rather work harder for the development of the country.

Dr Joseph Cobbina, Director of FORIG, said the exhibition centre was established with a view to making available at all times most of the Institute's research findings to stakeholders, as well as others who might be interested in its work.

Dr Joseph Ofori, Deputy Director of FORIG, said a major problem facing the Institute was lack of funding for research activities, adding that more than 95 per cent of money received from the government went into payment of wages and salaries of staff leaving, only small amount for research work.