The Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Standards Authourity (GSA), Mr. Owusu Boadu has underlined the need to ensure that local products meet quality and safety standards.

This, he said, would help to whip-up consumer confidence and make them to become competitive.

He was speaking at a day’s workshop on promoting standards in the wood industry held at the Miklin Hotel in Kumasi.

It was organized by the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD), and brought together participants from the Forestry Commission, research institutions and industry.

The goal was to discuss ways of making sure that wood and wood products, particularly plywood and hardwood for the export market, meet set standards and specifications.

Mr. Boadu said keeping to standards were necessary to build added trust in business entities and reduce the occurrence of mistakes in their operations.

“Adherence to standards and specifications makes export much easier and improves the economy.”

Dr. Attah Alhassan, Executive Director of TIDD, said the workshop was one of the interventions to promote quality control guidelines and standards for plywood production.

He said it was important to address the capacity needs of plywood manufacturing companies, adding that the Division would do everything to effectively monitor the domestic market requirement of plywood and come up with the appropriate technology and interventions.**