Development assistance in the forestry sector
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 04 March 2015 13:39
Impacts over the last two decades and implications for the future
Authors: Chris Beeko, Kwame Antwi Oduro, Elizabeth Asantewaa Obeng
This study was commissioned under the Growing Forest Partnerships initiative in Ghana. The purpose of the study was to provide inputs that can challenge and influence the direction and quality of development assistance in the forest sector in such a manner as to return optimum contribution to the governance environment, growth of institutions, and the development of the resource. The forest sector of Ghana can be credited for the role it has played in the country’s economic development. Currently, the sector contributes four percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Over the last two decades, there have been several efforts from development partners to assist the sector improve on its contribution to national socio-economic development. Consequently, the sector has consistently received millions of dollars of development assistance from various development partners. In the past two decades, an amount in excess of US$ 643 million (in 2009 dollar value) has been pumped into the sector. This gives an average, between 1989-2009, of US$ 32 million a year (in 2009 dollar value). The forest sector aid architecture in Ghana has changed over the years.
Over the years, CSIR-FORIG has developed a number of technologies and interventions through research. Technology here refers to ‘any specific information and know-how, tangible or intangible, required to solve a problem or for the development, production, management or use of resources (Wikipedia, 2012, UNESCO, 1985). Th e technologies generated at CSIR-FORIG are aimed at combating environmental degradation, safeguarding the sustainable use of the nation’s forest resources and improving rural livelihood. All these technologies have the potential to contribute positively to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of Ghanaians. However, many of the technologies have not been properly packaged, publicised and transferred to target stakeholders, users and the general public in comprehensible language. 
Data and information on bamboo resources in Ghana are scattered and in various forms. This impedes quality research work and effective dissemination of information on this valuable resource. Especially in an era where there is the introduction of new courses in Non-timber forest products especially bamboo in most forestry related educational institutions in Ghana, the publication of the handbook of bamboo resources in Ghana will improve access to information and data on bamboo in Ghana. The book titled ‘Bamboo Resources in Ghana: Diversity, properties, products and opportunities” was published with financial support of ITTO fellowship (Ref No 010/10A). It is divided into eight chapters with each chapter comprising data and information on different aspects of bamboo resources in Ghana.