Forestry Commission to collaborate with West Coast Wooden Products to advance Youth Employment

The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission (FC), Dr. Hugh Brown, has paid a familiarisation visit to West Coast Wooden Products Ghana Limited (WCWP) as part of efforts to strengthen public–private collaboration to advance youth employment and skills development within Ghana’s forest-based industrial sector.

Dr. Brown was accompanied by a six-member delegation, made up of Acting Deputy Chief Executives, Mr. Elikem Kotoko and Hon. Timothy Ataboadey Awontiirim; Dr. Richard Gyimah, Executive Director of the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD); Mrs. Joyce Ofori Kwafo, Head, Corporate Affairs and Media Relations; as well as the Greater Accra TIDD Area Manager, Mr. Kwadwo Opoku Adomako, and his Deputy, Mr. Frederick Sagoe. The visit focused on gaining first-hand insight into WCWP’s production processes, operational capacity, quality assurance systems, and future plans for expansion.

Delivering a brief insight on behalf of the company, the Marketing Manager, Mr. Arnold Susuawu, provided background information on WCWP, which operates from Afienya in the Greater Accra Region, with another facility and forest plantations at Twifo Hemang in the Central Region. Established in 2024, WCWP is branch of Sanyang Furniture, a multinational parent company of Chinese origin with operations in several countries, including Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. He noted that the company applies strict quality control measures across its entire production chain to ensure consistency, efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Mr. Susuawu disclosed that WCWP currently operates below its full capacity, employing about 400 staff at its Afienya facility and approximately 1,500 workers nationwide. However, the Company has plans of expansion to grow its workforce to about 5,000 employees. He further indicated that WCWP plans to diversify into furniture manufacturing as well as interior and exterior wood furnishing, in addition to its current production and export of lumber, plywood and other timber products. Infrastructure to support these expansions is already under development.

Central to the discussions was WCWP’s commitment to job creation and skills development, particularly for the youth. Mr. Susuawu highlighted the company’s readiness to support practical learning through factory access and partnerships with the National Service Secretariat, as well as apprenticeship and skills training programmes aimed at enhancing employability and creating sustainable livelihoods.

WCWP was among the first six companies to be awarded Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Licences in 2025, enabling it to export legal and ethically sourced timber products to the European market. This milestone underscores the Company’s adherence to responsible forest management and international legality standards.

The FC delegation was taken on a guided tour of the facility by the Assistant Factory Manager, Mr. Raphael Ashietey , who demonstrated the plywood production process, quality assurance protocols and specialised machinery in use. The tour also showcased the Company’s waste management system, where sawdust is processed into wood pellets and used as eco-friendly fuel for on-site boilers, ensuring efficient and sustainable utilisation of raw materials. The delegation further visited the warehouse, which houses various plywood products, some earmarked for export oversees and neighbouring countries, as well as ongoing residential projects for staff accommodation.

Reflecting on the visit, Dr. Brown commended WCWP’s vision to contribute meaningfully to reducing unemployment, particularly among the youth. He emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration between the state and industry to address operational challenges and unlock the Company’s full potential as a driver of job creation and industrial growth within the forestry sector.