By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Nov. 05, GNA – The Ghana Timber Trade and Industry Association (GTTIA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SPI Consulting Services to strengthen the Association’s institutional capacity and promote a more competitive, responsible and sustainable timber industry in Ghana.
The partnership aims to address institutional and operational challenges within the timber trade while enhancing the industry’s ability to respond to emerging market demands, policy developments and sustainability requirements.
The MoU was signed by Mr Lord-Lucas Vodzi, a Chartered Environmentalist and Business Development Planning Expert, and Professor Victor Fannam Nunfam, a Research and Advocacy Specialist, on behalf of SPI Consulting Services.
Mr Alexander Kingsfred Dadzie, President of GTTIA, signed on behalf of the Association.
Under the agreement, SPI Consulting Services will support GTTIA to strengthen its institutional, administrative and operational systems while enhancing the professional and technical capacities of its leadership, secretariat, member associations and other industry stakeholders.
The collaboration is also expected to position GTTIA to participate more effectively in national, regional and international policy discussions and establish the Association as a credible source of research, evidence-based policy positions and industry information on Ghana’s timber and forestry sector.
A key objective of the partnership is to improve the Association’s ability to mobilise financial and technical resources from development partners, governments, foundations, private sector institutions and other funding sources.
The partnership will further explore sustainable income-generating opportunities for the Association and support the development of strategic local and international partnerships.
Additionally, the collaboration seeks to promote responsible and sustainable timber production and trade, strengthen the competitiveness of Ghanaian timber and wood products in domestic and international markets, and enhance the visibility and institutional profile of GTTIA.
The agreement places emphasis on promoting investment, innovation, technology adoption and value addition within the timber industry to contribute to a sustainable, inclusive and economically viable forestry sector.
The partnership comes at a time when the timber industry is facing increasing demands for responsible sourcing, legality verification, environmental compliance and improved competitiveness in international markets.
Stakeholders believe that strengthening the institutional capacity of industry players is critical to enabling Ghana’s timber sector to respond effectively to changing market requirements while protecting forest resources and maximising economic benefits from the trade.
The collaboration is expected to provide a framework for coordinated efforts to address industry challenges and create opportunities for growth across the timber value chain.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah