Over 11 million Ghanaians derive their livelihoods from the forest. In addition to timber, nuts, fruits, resins, gums and charcoal, fruits, medicinal plants, bush meat, honey, pesticidal plants etc. are continuously exploited from the forest. There are concerns on unsustainability partly due to lack of institutions that support marketing of most forest products, particularly NTFPs and hence poor access to markets. This programme will therefore support market development for forest products.
The Forest Products and Marketing Division which is currently headed by Dr Lawrence Damnyag, has a staff strength comprising 4 senior members, 1 senior staff.
Priority areas will include:
- Â Â Value chain development / capacity building
- Â Â Â Bio-prospecting
- Â Â Â Marketing and trade
- Â Â Â Strengthen rural enterprises (including co-operatives)
- Â Â Â Development of standards and certification of marketed products
- Â Â Â Access to domestic and international marketing
- Â Â Â Private sector investment in non-timber forest products development and processing
SENIOR MEMBERS
| Name | Rank | Field of Expertise |
| Lawrence Damnyag (PhD) | Senior Research Scientist | Socio Economist |
| Beatrice Obiri Darko(PhD) | Principal Research Scientist | Socio Economist |
| Samar B. Sparkler | Research Scientist | Â |
| Jacqueline Twintoh | Principal Technologist | Â |
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SENIOR STAFFÂ
| Name | Rank |
| Richard Kwadwo Adjei | Chief Technical Officer |