Wood Industry and Utilization

 

Wood Industry and Utilization Division was created some few years after Forest Products Research Institute was fully established under Ghana Academy of Sciences as a research institute in 1964. The Division, headed by Mr. FFK Ampong, had three sections namely Mechanical Processing, Preservation and drying. Some Research Scientists at that time included Mr. Martin Ben-dzam, Mr. FFK Ampong, Mr. WK Ashiabor, Dr. J. Ofori, Dr. A. Addae-Mensah and Mr. Joshua Ayarkwa. In the late 80’s, the Division, which was renamed as Engineering and Mechanical Processing, was headed by Dr. Addae-Mensah until 1996 when he handed over to Dr. J. Ofori.

The Division was in charge of the utilization programme that was introduced as one of the core research areas. In 2007 under the Directorship of the then Dr. VK Agyeman, the name of the Division was changed to Wood Industry Development and Trade (strategic plan III) and again, was renamed as Wood Industry Development in 2012 (strategic plan IV). During the implementation of strategic plan III, the rotational headship of the division among scientists started. In August 2015 the division was renamed again as Wood Industry and Utilization.

The block of the division, Dr. J.R Cobbinah block, is named after an Eminent Scientist and former Director of the Institute. Since January 2010 the following have headed the division:
Mr. JK Appiah (2010 and 2012)
Mr. Francis Wilson Owusu ( 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2016-17, 2022-2023)
Dr. Lawrence Damnyag (Jan-June 2015)
Dr. Emmanuel Ebanyenle (July-Dec 2015; 2018-2021)

The current head of division is Dr. James Korang, Principal Research Scientist. The Division currently has 10 senior members (with 2 on study leave), 6 senior staff and 2 junior staff.

The division seeks to develop technologies for efficient processing and utilization of wood and non-wood forest products as a means to improve exploitation. Priority areas include:

  1. Wood processing and products development
  2. Reduction of residues and residue utilization
  3. Processing of LUS and lesser known species
  4. Small diameter logs and non-traditional timber processing
  5. Incubation and linkage to industry/small medium enterprises
  6. Setting up standards and regulations to govern the operations of small scale and medium scale forest enterprises (including development of informal wood sector)
  7. Support specialized training and craftsmanship schemes for wood processing, bamboo, rubber wood, rattan and lesser-known tree species.
  8. Biofuel

SENIOR MEMBERS

Name Rank Field of Expertise
Dr. Emmanuel Ebanyenle (PhD) Senior Research Scientist Wood Anatomy
Dr. James Kofi Korang Research Scientist  Wood Chemistry
Dr. Michael Awotwe-Mensah Research Scientist Wood Engineering
Dr. Prosper Mensah Research Scientist Wood Composite
Bridgette Brentuo(Ms.) Research Scientist Wood drying
James Kudjo Govina Principal Technologist Wood Anatomy
Haruna Seidu Principal Technologist Timber Mechanics / Furniture Testing
Judith Odei Owusu-Asante Principal Technologist Wood Chemistry
Prosper Mensah Principal Technologist Wood Science /Wood Construction

SENIOR STAFF

Name Position Field of Expertise
Mr. Eric Frimpong Chief Chief Technical Officer Furniture design and construction
Mr. Peter Loving Arthur Chief Technical Officer Furniture design and construction
Mr. Felix Boakye Chief Technical Officer Furniture design and Production
Mrs. Jemima Owusu Chief Technical  Officer Chemical Engineering
Mrs. Ruth Esi Amuzu Technical Officer Farm Management
Mr. Joshua Adzigodie Technical Officer Forestry

JUNIOR STAFF

Name Position Field of Expertise
Mr. Christopher Kudze Junior Foreman Wood Machining
Mr. Joshua Owusu Afriyie Trademan Grade II Spraying

Facilities

The Division has six sections/laboratories, which include:

  • Wood Anatomy Laboratory
  • Chemistry and Chemical Technology Laboratory
  • Wood Preservation
  • Wood Physics and Drying
  • Wood and Furniture testing centre
  • Wood machining (A workshop for preparation of wood samples and production of wood products)

About us

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana is one of the 13 institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It is located at Fumesua near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It started as a research unit within the Forestry Department in 1962. It was fully established as a research institute and named FOREST PRODUCTS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (FPRI) under the then Ghana Academy of Sciences in 1964 and in 1968 placed under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Contact us

The Director
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box UP 63 KNUST
Kumasi, Ghana

Tel :+233-(0)3220-60123/60373
Fax :+233-(0)3220-60121
Email : [email protected]