It is equipped with two chillers, laboratory, x-ray and drying rooms, conference hall and a standby generator.

Added to these is a Toyota pick up to aid its smooth running.

The centre is a product of the strong collaboration between the Lands and Forestry Ministry and the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG). Mr. Peter Amewu, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, said it was going to be pivotal in the implementation of the national tree seed programmes.

It comes at a time when the focus of the forestry sector has shifted from timber extraction to plantation development, promotion of investment in ecotourism and emission reduction.

The Minister indicated that the Forestry Commission required about 13,300,000 seedlings under the national plantation development programme (NPDP) and it was against this background that the establishment of the centre, was significant.

It would help to overcome the problem of unavailability of adequate quality tree seedlings that over the years various plantation programmes had had to struggle with.    He added that the centre would serve as “enabler” and support the policy direction of the Ministry through the Ghana Forest Investment Programme, NPDP and other programmes in the forestry sector.

Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said there could be no doubt that it was going to make vital contribution to sustainable forest management practices in Ghana.

"Helping to restore the degraded portions of Ghana's forests and the protection of diversity within our forests should be a priority for the centre".   Prof Daniel Ofori, Director of FORIG, said it would manage breeding seed orchards and seed stands of both indigenous and exotic tree species.

"The centre will also develop protocols for vegetative propagation of species that are difficult to mass produce through seed route, including tissue culture, rooting of cuttings, grafting and layering" he added.