GTA To Embark On Massive Reforestation

The Ghana Timber Association (GTA) has decided to support the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on afforestation and reforestation.

Mr. J. A. Armah, National President of GTA in an interview with the GNA in Takoradi said district and regional offices of the Association had been directed to identify degraded forests for the beginning of a massive reforestation programme.

Speaking after an executive meeting at the weekend, he said the National Treasurer, Mr. Isaac Kofi Nketia, Mr A. K. Dadzie, Western Regional Chairman, Mr. Kwame Asenso Adjare, Western Regional Treasurer and Mr. Kwesi Affum, National Finance Committee Member, had been charged to negotiate with the Forestry Department for the establishment of a nursery for the exercise.The four officials had also been tasked to solicit for funds to support the programme.

Mr. Armah stressed the need for the programme throughout the country to ensure all degraded forest were re-planted since the future of the timber industry depended on the availability of trees. He appealed to timber producers, firms and companies, communities and non-governmental organisations to embrace the PSI.

In another development, the GTA has appealed to the government to give preferential treatment to indigenous Ghanaian timber producers in the allocation of Timber Utilisation Contracts (TUCs).

The GTA also welcomed the Minister of Lands and Forestry, Professor Dominic Fobih and the Deputy Minister, Madam Theresa Tagoe to the sector and expressed the hope that they would initiate policies to improve the timber industry and to ensure the success of the PSI.