Some wood workers in Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region are expressing worries that the country will soon be hit by shortage of wood.
According to them, the country is at a stage where the wood producing communities have reduced supplies drastically as a result of extinction of some specie.
Speaking on behalf of the wood workers, the National Organizer of the Wood Workers Association, Emmanuel Tetteh Doku explained that the association has begun talks with other neighboring countries for the supply of wood for construction and other related usage.
“Currently, our association is in talks with one company in South Africa on how it can supply wood into the country. It is sad to know that as a country we are beginning to import something which could have made it ourselves.” He said.
Mr. Doku added that despite the country’s efforts to educate its populace on how to protect and grow trees to meet the rising demands of wood products,there were existing challenges.
“This idea of tree planting though somewhat will help the country’s forestry, it can not solve the immediate problem our association is facing currently.”He added.
He, however, pleaded on government to find lasting solutions to their predicament as well as put in measures that will encourage the youth to venture into the technical course at various institutions.
“Our plea to government is to help us do proper negotiations with companies that are willing to supply the country with wood.” He said.
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Association, Apuzio Cletus, reasoned that if they get to a point where there is no solution to their predicament on the shortage of wood, bamboo will be used as an alternative.
Source:A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ghana
