volume 3, issue 4 december, 2008 - csir-forig.org.gh
TRANSCRIPT
FORIG NEWS
Inside this issue:
CSIR-FORIG at GIFEX 2008
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CACAO Workshop Promotion
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3
FORIG 2008 Retir-ees
4
FORIG Best Workers for 2008 Allanblackia Work-shop
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IUFRO and
CIFOR Corner
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2008 END OF YEAR PARTY IN PICTURES
December, 2008 Volume 3, Issue 4
FORIG NEWS For es t r y Resear ch Ins t i tu te o f Ghana Volume 3, Issue 4
CSIR-FORIG AT GIFEX 2008
F orestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), one of the 13 Institutes of the Council for Scien-tific and Industrial Research participated in the
12th Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Industry Exhibition (GIFEX) which was held from 17th to 26th October, 2008 at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre in Accra. The fair was organized by Ghana Forestry Commission, under the auspices of the Minis-try of Lands, Forestry and Mines in collaboration with the Association of Ghana Industries.
CSIR-FORIG showcased some exhibits such as tables, chairs, cupboards, trinket bowls and beds among others; which were made from coconut wood, rubber wood and palm trees .
As part of the fair, CSIR-FORIG organized a seminar on the 22nd of October 2008 on the theme ‘100 years of Forestry in Ghana: CSIR-FORIG’s Role’ to high-light some of the institute’s achievements that have contributed to national development over the years. Dr. Daniel Sekyere, Deputy Director of CSIR-FORIG gave an excellent presentation on the achievements of FORIG. He emphasized that the forests of Ghana were dwindling as a result of over-exploitation. The effects were that some industries were folding up, thereby creating unemployment and that there is a decline in revenue generation, increase in illegal chain saw ac-tivities and many more.
Dr. E. Foli, Head of Environmental Services and Cli-mate Change Division in his presentation mentioned that the Institute was now at a promotional stage and that with a new discovery in processing coconut, rub-ber wood and palm trees into usable wood, the Insti-tute would recommend these species to manufacturers and users of wood products.
The discovery, he said would enable owners of palm and coconut trees benefit substantially as they could make money from the sale of the trees once they were dead or attacked by disease.
Mr. Wilson-Owusu revealed that FORIG had acquired a logosol machine for the milling of trees into lumbers and that the machines could be used to mill trees when felled. Mr. Yeboah displays exhibits of FORIG at GIFEX 2008
December 2008
PROMOTION
Page 3 FORIG NEWS
CACAO WORKSHOP
A three-day International Workshop to address the many challenges faced by cocoa farmers in
Africa in order to expand production and returns within a revitalized multifunctional, agricultural sector, was held from 28th to 30th October, 2008 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi City. The workshop was mainly spon-sored by MARS Incorporated in collaboration with the Governments of Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nige-ria, Liberia and Togo and hosted by the Government of Ghana. Dr. J. R. Cobbinah of FORIG was the chairman of the National Organizing Committee. Some CSIR-FORIG staff were also members of the venue organiz-ing committee. The theme of the workshop was “Theobroma cacao: The Tree of Change” .
The overall objectives were to determine the status, trends and future scenarios for cocoa production in West and Central Africa and how they relate to the global demand.
Two hundred and fifty delegates from 14 countries who attended the workshop deliberated on the fragile and unsustainable future of the Cocoa Industry in Africa and the urgent need to remedy the situation..
Presentations made at the workshop revealed that the Co-coa Industry in Africa suffers from multiple constraints in policies as well as social, economic and environmental limitations. Therefore, inaction in addressing the above threats will lead to a progressive erosion of cocoa produc-tion, rural incomes and livelihoods, national revenues, global supplies of high quality cocoa and the leadership position currently enjoyed by Africa. Hence, a concerted and coordinated action by governments, industry, scien-tists and multi-lateral donors could create a better future characterized by sustainable cocoa production.
A proposed agreement stated that knowledge and technol-ogy exist now to implement these critical developments. However, what is required is the collective will and com-mitted resources.
Delegates pledged to work within a coordinated frame-work to deliver measurable outcomes by specified dates. Some of the expected outcomes include:
Ensure that income of cocoa farming households doubles/triples the MDG targets through increased productivity and diversification of income streams
Put public and private sector services in place to support multifunctional agriculture
Dr. P. Bosu, Head of the Training and Consultancy Section was promoted from Research Scientist to Senior Research Scientist. His promotion takes effect from 1st January, 2008.
Management and staff wish to congratulate him.
Page 4 Volume 3, Issue 4
FORIG 2008 RETIREES Ten members of staff, comprising nine males and a female retired from FORIG in 2008 and were honoured for their dedicated service to the Institute at an end of year get-together held on 18th December, 2008. The ten who had a collective working experience of over 288 years had served in various capacities in different divisions of the Insti-tute. To these loyal retirees, we say “AYEEKO”.
Dr. F. Ohene-Coffie was em-ployed by FORIG on 1st July, 1991 and retired on 23rd December, 2008, after serving for
17 years.
He retired as a Research Scientist.
Madam M. Luu was employed by FORIG on 3rd March, 1975 and retired on 29th June, 2008, after serving for 33 years..
She retired as an Overseer.
Mr. C. O. Ansah was employed by FORIG on 14th August, 1996 and retired on 1st January, 2008, after serving for 12 years.
He retired as a Security Assistant Grade 1.
Mr. Mr. J. K. Eshun was em-ployed by FORIG on 1st June, 1988 and retired on 30th June, 2008, after serving for 20
years
He retired as a Senior Administrative Officer.
Mr. J. K. Owusu was employed by FORIG on 1st Octo-ber, 1969 and re-tired on 2nd No-vember, 2008, after serving for 39 years.
He retired as an Overseer.
Mr. A. K. Boakye was employed by FORIG on 15th
January, 1985 and retired on 20th Sep-tember 2008, after serving for 23 years.
He retired as a Chief Technical Offi-cer.
Mr. L. Y. Issaka was employed by FORIG on 1st February, 1972 and retired on 19th July, 2008, after serv-ing for 36 years.
He retired as an Overseer.
Mr. J. Y. Kusi was e m p l o y e d b y FORIG on 2nd Sep-tember, 1968 and retired on 18th June, 2008, after serving for 40 years.
He retired as an Overseer.
Mr. S. K. Be-nevolio was em-ployed by FORIG on 9th October, 1974 and retired on 14th February, 2008, after serv-ing for 34 years.
He retired as an Administrative Assis-tant.
Mr. J. Abu was e mp l o ye d b y FORIG on 1st June, 1972 and retired on 2 1 s t F e b r u a r y, 2008, after serving for 36 years.
He retired as an Overseer.
Page 5 FORIG NEWS
FORIG BEST WORKERS FOR 2008
Overall Best Worker for the year 2008 — Mr. Elvis Nkrumah
Best Worker, Finance, Administration and C. I. D. for the year 2008 — Mr. John Agbozo
Best Worker, Technical Grade for the year 2008 — Miss Bridgette Brentuo
Best Worker, Non-Technical Grade for the year 2008 — Miss Patience Nsiah Nimo
ALLANBLACKIA WORKSHOP
F orestry Research Institute of Ghana hosted a three-day Internat iona l Workshop themed,
“Domestication of Allanblackia in Sub-Saharan Africa from 11th to 13th November, 2008. Forty six participants from nine countries including Kenya, The Netherlands and The United Kingdom attended the workshop which was supported by Unilever, World Agroforestry Centre and CSIR-FORIG.
In his welcome address, the Director of FORIG, Dr. V. K. Agyeman welcomed participants to the meeting and urged them to give off their best for fruitful deliberations. He said that Allanblackia has the potential of providing additional income to farmers, thereby helping to reduce poverty in African countries and bring about economic growth and
sity benefits to Africans. At the meeting, it was revealed that oil extraction from the seed of Allanblackia is being developed as an innovative new agribusiness in a number of countries on the African Continent. The key aims of this new business are to improve the economic status of rural poor communities through harvest and cultivation of the genus, and to improve diets globally by the provision of high quality food oil. The oil from the seed is used to manufacture products like margarine, soap and cosmetic products.
The workshop ended with a call to review what has al-ready been done to facilitate the future planning both on supply chain and domestication of Allanblackia species.
Calendar of meetings was reproduced from IUFRO & CIFOR News.
IUFRO & CIFOR CORNER
Phone: 233 51 60123 233 51 60122 Fax: 233 51 60121 Email: [email protected] To send in articles, please use [email protected]
F orest r y Re sea rch In st i t u t e o f Gh an a P .O . B ox 63 K NUS T K UM AS I, Gh an a
Editorial Team Mrs M. Sraku-Lartey
Mrs Naomi Appiah
Mr Kennedy Asamoah
Mrs Stella Britwum Acquah
IUFRO Meetings 12-14 March 2009 Innovation and New Horizons in Tree Nursery Stock Production and Forest Restoration—From Research to Business Rome, Italy Contact: Anders Mattson Email: [email protected] or at http://www.iufro.org/events/calendar
World Forestry Congress WFC2009 - XIII WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS - 18 - 25 OCTOBER 2009
PASEO COLÓN 982 – ANEXO JARDÍN – C1063ACV - BUENOS AIRES - ARGENTINA For more information visit http://www.wfc2009.org
CIFOR Meetings 10-12 March, 2009 International Scientific Congress on Climate Change; “Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions” Copenhagen, Denmark Contact: Jane Segard Hansen Email: [email protected] or at http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/Events