The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Akwasi Konadu who is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia North Constituency in Ashanti Region as part of his official duties in the Western region embarked on a working visit to the Timber Industry Development Division Head office in Takoradi. The purpose of the visit was to hold a meeting with the staff of the Division in his quest to acquaint himself with the Division’s operations, and challenges, and engage key internal stakeholders.
Amongst the Deputy Minister’s delegation at the meeting was the Technical Director for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Joseph Osiakwan, Ag. Technical Director of Lands, Mr. Hope Agbah, Director, PPME, Matthew Ababio.
The Ag. Executive Director, TIDD Hon. Martha Kwayie Manu, in her welcome address, expressed her profound gratitude and honor for the Deputy Minister’s visit and emphasized the importance of the collaboration between the government and industry for sustainable development.
The Director of Operations, Dr Richard Gyimah, in his address, provided a detailed overview of TIDD’s operations, shedding light on the functions of TIDD, timber industry business processes, and its economic impact. He also highlighted key operational challenges, including funding gaps, inadequate logistics, and capacity building of staff. He also mentioned that there is a lack of raw materials for the industry and a need for efficient systems to ensure industry sustainability.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Akwasi Konadu in his remarks at the meeting commended TIDD for its significant contributions to the economy and encouraged the Industry to comply with regulations and adopt environmentally friendly practices. He also emphasized the importance of sustainable forestry practices and conservation efforts to ensure the long-term viability of Ghana’s forest resources.
Some key recommendations were raised during the interactive sessions which include increased collaboration between the Ministry and the Timber Trade Associations to address challenges such as illegal logging, and deforestation and promoting sustainable forestry practices, suggestions of capacity building and training programs to improve skills within the Industry to enhance efficiency. Furthermore, he highlighted the need for timber plantations and the conduct of research into lesser-used species.
Hon.Akwasi Konadu used the opportunity to inspect the wood identification laboratory at the TIDD head office, observing the advanced technology and procedure used for wood species identification and regulatory compliance.
The Deputy Minister underscored the importance of such periodic engagement with TIDD.
