The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, has explained why impounded rosewood is not being used for furniture in the country.
He said due to the nature of rosewood, carpenters in the country are not ready to use it for furniture.
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“Most carpenters in the country don’t have the equipment to cut rosewood so they are not ready to use it,” the Lands and Natural Resources Minister said on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem programme, Thursday.
His comment follows a call by the Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak on the government to use the seized rosewood for furniture for schools.
He described as wicked the Forestry Commission’s decision to burn it when in fact several schools across the country lack furniture.
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But, Mr Asomah-Cheremeh said rosewood is not fit to make furniture for schools.
“The nature of rosewood makes it difficult to use so the carpenters prefer to use paw paw,” he added.
The Natural Resources Minister maintained that, government will not burn seized rosewood.
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Rather, he said they are yet to decide whether to export to generate enough revenue to support government’s social intervention programmes or not.
Mr Asomah-Cheremeh assured that the report by the seven-member investigative committee to unravel the activities of illegal exploitation of rosewoods will be made public.
Source: Ghana | Adomonline.com | Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman