Chairman of the Sokoban Wood Village Carpenters Association, Daniel K. Dagodzo is sounding the alarm over Ghana’s galamsey menace , warning that if left unchecked, the country could one day be forced to import the very wood growing in its own forests.
Speaking exclusively to Business Outlook Africa, Dagodzo argued that the dire consequences of galamsey extend far beyond destroyed water bodies, warning that the rate at which Ghana’s forests and trees are being decimated could one day force the country to import timber despite having the land to produce it.
“ They’ve claimed most of these trees and it benefits to us all .If care is not taken, it is the exact same thing that will have that we will have our own land and still be importing timber/wood. So the govt should do well to avoid this.’’ He stated
Daniel K. Dagodzo also called on government to direct sawmills to retain more timber locally, warning that reckless exports are leaving local carpenters with no option but to work with rejected and low-quality wood. He added that the more timber is exported, the less is available for local craftsmen, crippling both productivity and the quality of output at the village.
“ You rarely get the quality ones. We even compete to get them. We are not saying they shouldn’t export the wood but we are telling them that when they do, they should retain more in the country, so that we can use it to produce quality work for them.’’ he stated
On the increasing rate of deforestation, Dagodzo urged government to go a step further by designating a national tree-planting day to mobilize all Ghanaians in tackling the crisis head-on.
He also stated that the association is open to collaborating with the Forestry Commission to plant more trees, warning that the growing shortage of wood is threatening the survival of the carpentry trade.
“ The Government in particular should allow us to collaborate with the Forestry Commission to plant more trees or better still the Forestry Commission should set aside a date for all Ghanaians and the whole Ghana to plant trees so as to deal with wood shortage.’’ He added
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