Forest Focus

In tandem with addressing one of the challenges of ensuring sustainable forest utilization which confront the new Forestry Commission, WITC has been providing high quality training, extension and consultancy services to facilitate capacity development in industry particularly for the promotion of value-added products derived from downstream processing.

Since 1995, WITC has improved the skills of at least almost 2000operatives especially those in the tertiary sector in order to maximise returns. The impact could best be measured in terms of the qualitative changes that are manifested in the work ethics and performance of participants of training courses. This consequently reflects in the degree of professionalism, output and quality of the products emanating from the companies sponsoring them.

It is imperative for all stakeholders to patronise the services of the Centre since the human resources development aspect is a critical requirement for capacity building of the industry. The WITC project is a manifestation of the FC's commitment to the development of the timber industry as human capital upgrading had been the missing link in the timber development equation. It is this Centre which has been smoothening the path to propel industry into downstream production to meet future challenges.

Much as WITC has been adapting to changing trends, it continues to provide Ghana's timber industry and trade with specialised services to foster modernisation, facilitate greater value addition and promote greater skills development for far more efficient capacity utilisation on a sustainable basis.

With this training, WITC is the Centre of Excellence for the timber industry and trade giving credence to the FC's importance attached to skills development as a pre-requisite for industry development. Industry thus testifies to the relevance of WITC to its aspirations and a key to its long-term survival and sustenance.

The ISKDEC aims among other things at the following:

The purpose of developing and implementing an Operational Plan (OP) for WITC is to improve the productivity and profitability of the Centre by appropriate planning of all its activities. This is to enable the WITC operate on a sound commercial basis.

CREATING DESIGNS OF WOOD PRODUCTS (Eg. Furniture) FOR THE WOOD INDUSTRY

To build Instructors' capacity to be able to respond to Ghana's wood industry's demand for the WITC to lead the way in innovative designs for wood products that respond to the requirements of the markets (local and international) and products that are aesthetically beautiful and are part of a harmonised interior decoration.

The Centre's challenge is how to harmonise the creative potentials of the Designer with the thoughts of the local or international businessman (Buyer) who wants wood products that can be successfully marketed at prices that make them meet the requirements of low cost and profitability.

INDUSTRIAL WOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT

The challenge here is how to reduce environmental impact of industrial wood processing activities especially against the background of fast dwindling forest resources and corresponding wood supplies.

The Centre also intends to assist the wood industry improve production yields and reduce cost of production. There is also the need to minimize disposal costs and to maximize the efficiency of use of raw materials.

Waste being referred to here include saw dust, off-cuts, faulty raw materials, planer dust, sander dust etc. The extension is residual wastage in or off forest reserves and chain saw lumbering.

IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF (APPROPRIATE) TECHNOLOGY FOR THE WOOD INDUSTRY IN GHANA

WITC also intends installing an appropriate machinery for processing branches and small diameter logs as a demonstration to the timber milling companies who will eventually be expected to adopt the technology for their own use as a strategy for managing logging residues.

The WITC has an objective of being at the forefront (top) of technology currently being employed in the wood industry in Ghana. This means the WITC has to build enough capacity in technology identification and selection in the areas below:

· Identify and select the level of technology that suits the skills of the workforce in the wood industry and the extent to which the equipment/machines can be maintained locally in the long to medium term at affordable costs.

· Provide technology direction that is in combination with the skills of the workforce and supervisors to meet the demand in quality and delivery of the clients (Buyers).

· Provide the means for sustainable financial performance in Ghanaian wood firms and to meet the threats from the competition in international markets through the application of appropriate technology.

WITC is forging strong collaboration with similar institutions all over the world in the area of Capacity Building and Manpower Development. Among them are SKIVETS of Denmark, Netherlands Management Cooperation Programme (NMCP), FTP of Finland, ITTO-Japan, TRADA of the UK. Linkages with similar institutions are most welcome.

STRATEGIC PARTNER/INVESTOR

In an attempt to satisfy the need to close the technological gap between it and industry, arrangements have reached an advanced stage for a joint ventureship with a Strategic Partner/Investor namely, LOPPS Wood Processing Lt. of Italy. The Company is desirous of assisting WITC in its programme of technology appreciation and development in terms of machinery and equipment and technical and managerial training for the wood industry and WITC Instructors.

TRAINING ACTIVITIES

The Centre has began acquiring more audio-visual aids to enhance presentation of training courses. Visits to industry would be intensified to assess more needs and the suitable courses designed. There would be vigorous promotion and marketing of training programmes to obtain higher participation.

Our next half year Training Calendar will be out soon. For more information contact:

FC'S CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD