The Wood Sector

The wood sector in Ghana offers a large contribution of foreign exchange earnings to the Ghanaian economy. Wood and its composites have a high percentage of businesses with growth potential. A better-organised sector will improve exports for the country with employment increasing yearly and supporting a livelihood of over three million people. According to a SPEED market analysis the most critical barriers to small companies in the wood sector are limited human capacity in terms of technical, business and marketing competencies, limited access to finance and access to markets. The sector also lacks appropriate working premises and an enabling environment, which makes it easier for companies to start, develop and grow their businesses. This results in low efficiency, high waste, low income, less employment, poor quality of products and thus minimum returns on investment. The key thrust towards the development of the sector, therefore, is in generating a more favourable climate for doing business and fostering synergies in order to concentrate resources.

Wood Cluster in Kumasi

Kumasi is traditionally an important centre of wood products in Ghana. That is why SPEED in cooperation with its partners, the Furniture and Wood Products Association, the Wood Association of Ghana and the Wood Industry Training Centre, has started facilitation, training and coaching on how to build and maintain clusters. SPEED's support includes among others a contribution towards the setup of the cluster secretariat. The secretariat is the rallying point for members. The cluster in Kumasi represents the lion share of the woodworking industries in Ghana. The implementation of innovative activities through this secretariat include:

Partners