Forest inspectors trained on ISO 17020 standard
Forty participants from the Inspectorate Division of the Forestry Commission (FC) have benefited from a technical support from the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO).
Advertisement
The training was to prepare the participants mainly from the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) to be familiar with the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) management system.
The four-day training workshop was meant to equip the participants with the knowledge and skills in implementing the ISO/IEC 17020 standards.
The training which formed part of the activities under UNIDO’s Trade Capacity Building (TCB) Programme was meant to build the capacity of the participants to meet the requirements of ISO/IEC for bodies performing inspection and the need for them to be impartial and consistent in their activities.
Due to the highly competitive international marketplace and the demand for national inspection bodies such as the TIDD to adopt scientific inspection systems which give confidence to wood inspection report in the national and international markets, it has become imperative that these bodies improve on their technical know and to adhere to the international standards.
The Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD), through the Forestry Commission Act, 571 (1999) provides inspection services to the timber industry. This is done by Grading and Inspection Department and is regulated under the Act.
The participants expressed gratitude to UNIDO for the training to equip them with the requisite skills to perform their functions.
The Bolga Area Manager of TIDD, Mr. Ernest Boro, said the training was both academic and practical and so allowed a lot of opportunities to really understand the requirement and processes.
Other Trending Stories
Mr. Kwakye who is also the Deputy Technical Manager of the TIDD ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation team expressed gratitude to the TCB team and UNIDO for their continuous support over the years.
“The UNIDO training workshop has been a good source of information and guidance for us to ensure our inspectorate activities are in accordance with all trade-related standards," he said.
UNIDO has since 2007 been implementing the trade capacity building programme funded by the Switzerland Government through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI).
The Ministry of Trade and Industry is the supporting government agency and the lead policy advisor to the government on trade, industrial and private sector development with responsibility for the formulation and implementation of policies for the promotion, growth and development of domestic and international trade, and industry.
This UNIDO/SWISS/MOTI collaboration therefore is geared towards improving technical and human capacity in the trade and export industry in Ghana.
UNIDO's primary objective is the promotion and acceleration of industrial development in developing countries and the promotion of international industrial cooperation.