The Minister of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Madam Hanna Tetteh has advised Ghanaian businessmen, entrepreneurs and wood processors to resort to the use of bamboo as an alternative tropical wood for raw material in the wood processing industry.

She said this when she inspected the state of the Assin Fosu Bamboo Industry, which had become dilapidated as a result of neglect at Assin Fosu in the Assin North District of the Central Region, on Friday.

Madam Tetteh was accompanied by officials from the National Board for Small Scale Industry (NBSSI) and Small and Medium Enterprise & Technology (SME &T).

She noted that bamboo as a raw material for the wood industry, will save the country’s forest from encroachers and de-afforestation since bamboo grows faster compared to tropical wood which can sometimes take about 10 to 15years to mature for industrial use.

Madam Tetteh said her recent visit to the Republic of China endeared her to the kinds of products the Chinese were using bamboo for.

She was full of praise for Mr Agborosoor Mensah, a craftsman at the factory for working to sustain the factory for the past 10 years.

She advised the youth of the area to avail themselves of the opportunity of the bamboo factory, and go into that business and contribute to national development.

Mr Agborosoor Mensah, the Manager of the factory, said he had all the needed machinery for processing bamboo into almost every product, from ply boards to tooth picks, panel doors to window blinds, bed and living room furniture, as well as classroom furniture and many others.

He expressed concern about getting the raw materials to sustain the business as people find bamboo harvesting a very tedious task and fail to continue after supplying his factory for some time.

"The Ministry should therefore, strategize to get the factory constant supply of bamboo to boost the business".

The Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Mr Alex Antwi Boasiako promised to partner Mr Mensah by meeting the NBSSI, the SME&T and the management of the factory to come out with a strategic document on how to get more raw materials for the factory as directed by the Minister.

He promised to ensure that some of the products will be purchased and used by the municipal assembly as well as schools in the district.**