Partners of Nature Africa (PONA), a non-governmental Organization (NGO), in reclamation and rejuvenation, has appealed to government to adopt bamboo trees in its reclamation and rejuvenation of abandoned galamsey sites in the country.
Making the appeal at a Bamboo Forum and exhibition in Accra, Mr. Forster Amofah, the Director of Operations of Partners of Nature Africa, stated that, “considering the ecological, economic, artistic and medicinal advantages of bamboo, it is in the interest of the country to adopt the plant at the various sites in the country.”
Mr. Amofah said, PONA had already started planting bamboo at some of the reclaimed sites in the Eastern Region and could attest to its viability on the Ghanaian landscape.
He appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) to create a value chain system that link communities planting bamboo on reclaimed lands with producers of bamboo products as booster to the industry.
He also called for more attention to be paid to the plant that is doing wonders in many sectors of the Chinese economy and even in Ghana.
Currently, bamboo is being used in the production of bicycles, crafts, building and many more in the country, with some companies raking in profits from its usage.
Bamboo comes in some 1250 species with some being used in furniture and building infrastructure such as cathedrals. Ghana currently has 680 of those varieties.
The forum brought together various industry players and stakeholders to network and find means of maximizing the benefits of the bamboo plant.
