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Lands Minister inaugurates first women in timber association
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has lauded women in the timber value chain for their effective contribution to the development of the sector.
He said in spite of the fact that the wood industry traditionally had been male-dominated, women’s participation in the area had shown progress and could not be underestimated.
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In a speech read on his behalf by Edith Abruquah, the acting Executive Director, Forest Services Division, during the launch of the Women in Timber Ghana (WiTG) Association in Kumasi last Wednesday, he acknowledged that women were engaged along the entire value chain of the timber industry.
WiTG
The membership of Women in Timber, Ghana (WiTG) is mainly the women in private sector’s timber trade associations.
The association has been formed to establish a common front and voice to confront the myriad of issues affecting businesses in the sector and it embraces women in the forest sector, inclusive of all activities along the wood and wood produce supply chain.
Its main objective is to serve as an active platform for building capacities of women in timber in Ghana towards realising the economic and social viabilities of their businesses.
Need for collaboration
Speaking on the theme: “Strengthening women’s participation in forestry and wood industry in Ghana,” Mr Jinapor said women had contributed substantially to the growth of the forest sector, urging them to work hard to sustain the gains made over the years.
He gave an assurance that the ministry would give the women’s group the needed support to help manage their businesses viably.
He advised the association to engage more with other recognised timber trade groups and CSO’s whose objectives and mission could align with theirs for synergy and effective impact.
Green Ghana agenda
In her address, the president of WiTG, Ernestina Owusu Banahene, said beyond the issues of the welfare of its members, the association was ready to partner the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to achieve the government’s Green Ghana Initiative which is the state’s efforts towards restoring degraded landscape in the country.