<<Print>>

A 112-page book on sawmilling;� Practical Approach to Sawmill Production in Ghana� has been launched at Fumesua, near Kumasi. The book, which is the first of its kind, was written by Mr Alfred Adu Gyamfi, a renowned wood technologist and lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Giving an overview of the book, the author said what motivated him to write the book was that there was no written document to serve as reference point for sawmillers in the country. He said the eight-chapter book gives details of sawmill production, and includes production programme, kiln drying and alternative costing calculation. He said there was the need for the country to develop a value-added wood product manufacturing sector in the country. According to him, there were several barriers to the wood industry which is dominated by small informal wood working enterprises that lack up-to-date knowledge of modern production technology and methods. �It is against this background that I have put this book together to serve as reference point for persons in the industry,� he added Mr Adu Gyamfi revealed that the over 60 sawmilling companies in the country were collapsing and he attributed it to lack of academicians in the sector and empowerment from the government. Launching the book, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Yaw Adusei, said sawmill production contributed positively towards the economic development of the country. He added that the sawmill production could not be sustained if people could not cultivate the habit of afforestation and continued use of guidelines provided by the Forestry Commission.