Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

Dominic Blay 33

This figure assumes a monthly production of over 14 million chewing stick

bundles.

Most traders are aged between 30 and 39 years, only a small minority

being 60 years or older. About 15% are male. Chewing stick trading is the

major occupation of 85% of the traders interviewed while only 15% consider it

as a minor, or secondary, occupation. Chewing stick logs are transported over

300 km on mostly lateritic roads to Kumasi and Accra, hence the traders incur

heavy transportation costs. In addition to the direct costs of transportation,

the traders also pay for the cost of loading and off loading.

Traders that double as processors generally employ people to work with

them. The income obtained from chewing sticks was said to be decreasing

because of the shortage of logs. Almost all traders market their wares at the

Kokomba and Aghophloshie markets in Accra and at the Central Market in

Kumasi. These markets are well noted in the country for the trade of chewing

sticks, both processed and raw. In addition to these main markets, bundles of

chewing sticks are retailed in all markets and garages. Processed chewing

sticks are also transported to Togo for sale. From our surveys we estimate that

about 15% of the total product is exported to Togo.

Forest reserve/off reserve

Urban gatherer

Urban wholesale,

first order trader

Wholesale,

second order trader

Chewing stick producers

First order

processor

Second order

processors/third order

traders

Retailers,

fourth order traders

Consumer

Village gatherer

Village trader

Figure 2. Chewing sticks trade network in Ghana

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