Ashanti Forest Service Division exceeds target

Kumasi, Jan 29, GNA- The Ashanti Regional office of the Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission replanted 5,920 hectares of degraded forest, exceeding its target of 5,600 hectares set for last year.

Mr Ebenezer Djigbletey, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Manager of the Forest Service Division, said the replanting programme covered six forest districts in the region.

He named them as Bekwai, Offinso, Kumawu, Juaso, Mampong and Nkawie.

Inaugurating the Ghana Tertiary Wood Products Association (GHATEWPA) Mr Djigbletey said due to the excellent performance last year a target of 6,500 hectares had been set for Ashanti this year. He said this year's exercise would cover the six districts that benefited from the programme last year and New Edubiase had been included.

Mr Samuel Gyasi, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Standards Board, complained of poor standards associated with products in the tertiary sector of the wood industry.

He said to help address the problem the Board had started programmes to improve upon quality of products.

Mr Gyasi said as part of the programme the Board had come out with standards in respect of doorframes and doors and urged those in the wood industry to make ample use of the standards.

The Board has also come out with a draft for standardisation of school furniture and it is being subjected to public comment after which it would be gazetted.

The Reverend S.K. Fugah, President of (GHATEWPA), reiterated the call on all stakeholders in the wood industry to disabuse their minds that the GHATEWPA was formed to divide the front of people in the industry.

Rev Fugah said the association was formed to assist and strengthen efforts of all other stakeholders including the Forestry Commission and other groups in the wood sector to sustain the industry.