Bamboo and rattan utilization in Ghana

An Overview

Paul Osei-Tutu, INBAR West Africa Regional Coordinator ptutu@inbar.int

About 400,000 ha of bamboo • Bambusa vulgaris • Oxythenanthera abyssinica

• 3 main rattan species • Eremospatha spp. • Lacosperma spp. • Calamus spp.

both traditional and modern

bamboo and rattan utilization

Traditional uses

Farm basket. Source: thefrogblog.org.uk

Traditional uses

Cocoa drying platform, chicken coop and farm house. Source: http://cocoafarmingpix.blogspot.com/2010/10/coopaga.html

Traditional uses

TV antenna pole

Traditional uses

Traditional reclining chair. Source: tonaton.com

Traditional uses

Bamboo entertainment: flute & canon

Modern uses

Truckload of bamboo, quite new and increasingly common sight in Ghana

Modern uses

Bamboo selling point, quite new and increasingly common sight in Ghana

Modern uses

Building support poles

Modern uses

Bamboo beach camp

Modern uses

Bamboo resort apartment

Modern Uses Bamboo school building & bamboo school furniture

Bamboo laminated school furniture Modern uses

Laminated bamboo school furniture

Modern uses

Bamboo school block. Source: http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/blog/gone-to-ghana-volunteering-in-africa/64

Bamboo arts center

Modern uses

The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan

Modern uses

Rattan/bamboo furniture. Source: http://vividwaysonline.com/

Bamboo bicycle frame

Modern uses

Modern uses

Artifacts. Made by a lady artisan (Phoebe: priscaowusu2015@gmail.com)

Bamboo charcoal and briquettes

Modern uses

Bamboo pellets

Modern uses

The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan

Concluding remarks

Ghana has made significant progress in bamboo and rattan utilization

There is room for further adoption and upscale of bamboo utilization technologies/options

Issues that require attention • Higher recovery (bamboo charcoal), product

innovation, quality standards/certification, packaging and marketing

• Regulation of resource exploitation and cultivation to ensure sustainability

The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan

Thank you

Merci