Wa MCE says no to Chinese furniture

Municipal Chief Executive for Wa, Issahaku Nuhu Putiaha has assured members of the Upper West branch of the wood workers association that the Assembly will never bypass them and go for furniture made and imported from China.

He stated that members of the assembly have resolved not to approve any furniture anywhere apart from one made from the municipality.

Mr. Issahaku made the statement at the end of a two week training workshop organized for members of the branch to upgrade their skills in wood work and to make them competitive in the market.

Members of Wood Workers Association in the country are fuming with rage over the country's preference for Chinese furniture over locally made ones.

The state sidestepped the Association to order and pay for furniture from China- furniture which the latter insists could have been made in Ghana.

Ghana’s legislators were severely criticized in November last year after Parliament took delivery of some furniture for the renovated chamber.

Five months later, the judiciary also incurred the wrath of woodworkers for following the footsteps of Parliament. The judiciary also took delivery of china-made office tables and chairs to fill an ultra-modern high court building complex in Accra.

Secretary of the Upper West branch of Wood Workers Association, Moomen Yussif appealed to assemblies in the Upper West region not to follow the footsteps of Parliament and Judiciary.

The Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Issahaku Nuhu Putiaha in a quick response to the association’s plea said the Wa Municipal Assembly will continue to lead the way and make sure that they benefit from the things they have influence over.

‘‘We in the Wa Municipality cannot be encouraging Chinese furniture in our hall and we have resolved as an assembly to get furniture made in Wa.

The Assembly will continue to encourage made in Ghana goods as espoused by     President Mahama and the NDC’’.

He however warned them to up their standards for them to gain the trust of the government.

We can’t continue to rely on you if you as wood workers continue to use substandard materials and primitive methods used by our forefathers.

Mr. Issahaku announced that plans are far afoot to relocate all wood workers in the municipality to a parcel of land acquired at Nakori.

 He thanked members of wood workers the association for their cooperation and support in that regard.

Seventy members of the association took part in the two week training workshop and were given certificates of participation. The Upper West branch has 155 members