The leadership of three workers’ group in the wood industry in the Ashanti Region has strongly rejected claims by Parliament and the judicial service that the industry lacks the capacity to meet demands of the local market, for which reason the two key state institutions had to import furniture from China.
According to the wood and furniture workers, the spontaneous public reaction to the furniture importation is enough reason for all to patronise the local wood and furniture industry, to strengthen the local currency.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Furniture and Wood Products Association of Ghana, Kwasi Awuah Agyemang, said this at a news conference in Kumasi to draw the attention of the public to the current state of the industry.
The wood industry comprises of Ghana Timber Millers Organisation and Wood Workers Association.
Mr Agyemang refuted the claims by a section of the public that the local wood workers are not up to international standard on factors such as poor quality and finishing and that the industry lacks the capacity to handle large demands.
According to him, they are just excuses that wood importers use to undermine the local industry.
The chairman disclosed that in spite of the challenges, the local wood and furniture industry has a potential to make significant contribution to the national economic and social development.
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