The  Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has identified two wood species as very strong for constructional purposes.

The two species known as “Wawa bima” and “Akyen” were identified from a total of 20 lesser known species in a research conducted by the faculty.

The research was made possible through funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation.

The two woods are currently not being used for any constructional purposes and the research from the faculty has revealed that the woods are very good and strong for construction.

The faculty has consequently used the two species to construct a footbridge on the Susanso River at Anloga in Kumasi and one of the KNUST campuses which is being used by students.

The footbridge is to facilitate the movement of people between Anloga and Susana-Bamso in particular and other areas within the catchment area.

Efforts are also underway to replicate the construction of footbridges and other constructional purposes from the two wood species in other parts of the country.

A former Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Professor Frimpong Mensah said the Wood Technology Department of the KNUST contributed immensely to the research while the Faculty of Engineering assisted with the construction of the footbridge.

Professor Mensah said the Wood Technology Department was constantly researching into lesser used wood species.

The KMA Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong expressed appreciation to the KNUST and the Bern University  whose support and collaboration made the project  a reality.

He also thanked the Anloga community for the communal spirit that went into the construction of the footbridge and said the initiative at Anloga would bring immense benefit to the people.

He noted that other communities in Kumasi had similar problems but were waiting for the government to come to their rescue.
Mr Sarpong said plans were underway to construct another bridge which could be used by vehicles to link Susanso and Anloga  and that it was being catered for in the Assembly’s budget for next year.

The KMA Chief Executive said the Assembly was ready to enforce its bye-laws and impose appropriate sanctions on offenders.

He said the ongoing decongestive exercise needed the support of everyone and said the Assembly was prepared to give it a  human face but would apply the law to the fullest and apply punitive measures to serve as a deterrent to others.

Two female students, Paulina Johnson and Patricia Porchner used the discovery of the woods and the construction of the bridge at Anloga as their project work, which was a joint collaboration between the KNUST and the Bern University of Switzerland.

Meanwhile, the footbridge on the Susanso River had been opened by the KMA Chief Executive. The Assembly Member for the Anloga Electoral Area, Mr Aminu Gariba, mentioned that  the construction of the footbridge was timely since the old weak bridge had not been in use after a heavy downpour that caused floods.

Tags: construction, discovery, ghana news, knust, wood