Artisans in wood processing industry to enroll in certification program

The Forestry Commission Training Centre (FCTC) at Akyawkrom-Ejisu, near Kumasi, is pursuing a certification program for artisans in Ghana’s wood processing industry to promote professionalism in the sector.

The dwindling forest resource demands prudent use of lumber in furniture making, among others.

Centre Director, Joseph Boakye, says the impartation of appropriate skills and knowledge will position artisans to maximize utilization of raw materials.

The FCTC is currently engaged in the upgrade of the skills of master craftsmen in carpentry, joinery and other woodworks to standardize their operations.

“We want to organize proper training and certification of apprentices,” he said. “We’ll examine them but the examination will be practical oriented because we want them to have the skills to be able to do hands-on training”.

Mr. Boakye believes the certification scheme will enhance competition and afford artisans the opportunity to bid for contracts.

“Once they have certificates to show that they’ve gone through proper training and they are well skilled, it will even make it easier for them to get contracts,” he noted.

Mr. Boakye also says there is an opportunity for youth, especially JHS and SHS levers, to be gainfully employment in the wood sector.

He observed that “most of the people in the carpentry are growing old; we have ageing workforce [because] it is not something that is attractive to the youth but it is a very good work”.

In addition to the training, the FCTC (formerly the Wood Industries Training Centre) is also committing to support the apprentices in accessing wood for their start-ups.

Meanwhile, the Woodworkers Association of Ghana is hoping the Forestry Commission will grant the group a land concession to venture into tree plantation.

President of the Association, Reynolds Debrah, is hopeful afforestation project will keep woodworkers in business.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh 

Ghanaian woodworkers access support to compete with imports

The Woodworkers Association of Ghana (WAG) is accessing support from the Skills Development Fund (SDF) under the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) to upgrade skills of master craftsmen.

Local woodworkers are struggling to compete with imports of furniture and other wood products into Ghana.

To survive the industry, Ghanaian wood processors require the skill sets and equipment upgrade to produce standard products.

“If you are in the industry and you don’t develop your skills, you’ll be weeded out, you’ll not fit into the system because as more quality products are coming, you also need to sharpen your skills,” observed Joseph Boakye, Director of the Forestry Commission Training Centre (FCTC).

The Centre has been contracted to train 1,200 members of WAG across the country with a grant of Gh827,000 by SDF-COTVET.

“Individual association members have got their skills upgrade, meaning that they’ll be able to improve their work, their income will improve, productivity will increase and their livelihood will also improve,” said Isaac Boateng, Deputy Grants Manager at SDF.

President of WAG, Reynolds Debrah, says through the training members are positioning themselves for increased productivity and competitiveness.

“Skills development and technical education is the answer to the unemployment in the country,” he said. “With this training, we’ve done knocked-down of packed furniture; we are able to do these things and you can assemble them yourself”.

Mr. Debrah added that “we are producing glazing products and our finishing too is upgraded, so gradually we’ll catch up with the outside world”.

The SDF has presented training materials, including computers and sets of screen projectors to support the continuous training of the woodworkers at the Forestry Commission Training Centre (FCTC).

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Woodworkers Association challenges parliament over quality of local furniture

Local woodworkers are challenging Parliament to test their skills in the wake of concerns about the quality of chairs imported from China for the House.

President of the Woodworkers Association of Ghana (WAG), Reynolds Debrah, says members are prepared to produce free samples for comparison with the imported ones.

“We are throwing this challenge to the government and to parliamentarians that they should bring one of the broken chairs to us; we’ll produce five new ones so that they will compare and the next time they fall on us,” he told Luv Fm.

Mr. Debrah says costing should be a factor because “if our cost is even high, it’s within the country; it is Ghanaians getting this money and they’ll use it in Ghana to build the economy”.

He is surprised at government’s sudden turn to foreign products when it seeks to encourage Ghanaians to patronize locally- made goods.

“Ghanaians have the capacity to produce even better chairs than that of China, which is more durable,” noted Mr. Debrah. “If they order these things from us Ghanaian, we create employment and the dollar which is running away from us, our contribution will help the dollar come down to stabilize.”

The woodworkers expect government to reduce “bureaucratic bottlenecks” in tendering processes to give them the opportunity to produce to meet demands.

They also entreat the Ministry of Trade and Industry to help revive the Ghana International Furniture Exhibition (GIFEX) to provide the platform for showcasing of Ghanaian furniture products.

“We want the public to know that there are competent and skillful woodworkers in Ghana who can adequately furnish all government or state institutions with quality furniture products,” said Mr. Debrah.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh