In government quest to reduce the importation of paper and paper products into the country has introduced gmelina species of plants in the Aparapi forest at the Bosomkese forest reserves in Bechem.

Gmelina plant is what is use to produce the raw material for the paper industry. The species was introduced in Ghana in the 1990s but failed to survive.

The five hectare gmelina species is being cultivated by the Youth in Afforestation programme under YEA. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh said as part of government policy to industrialize the country is being considered through a private partnership to acquire the necessary equipment to develop the paper industry hence the need to introduce the Gmelina plant.

Mr Asomah-Cheremeh said it the expectation of government that the species will survive but if it fails then government will turn it attention on growing the species for the purpose of timber.

This was revealed during day two of the Minister’s visit to some selected forest reserves in the Bono and Ahafo Regions respectively.

Story by: Kwaku Stephen