Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the forest sector are sounding the alarm on Ghana’s dwindling forest resources, citing government inaction on ratifying permits and leases as a major obstacle to sustainable management.
Out of 148 permits and leases flagged in 2014, only 11 have been ratified, with the remaining 137 still pending. This inaction is seen as a lack of commitment to protecting Ghana’s forests and environment.
In 2009, Ghana and the EU signed the Voluntary Partnership Agreement to ensure sustainable management and utilization of timber resources. This agreement was ratified by Parliament and became part of Ghana’s laws as the Timber Resources Management (Legality Licensing) Regulation 2017, L.I. 2254.
Successive governments have faced challenges in implementing this agreement, including ensuring timber is logged from permitted production forest reserves with legal permits ratified by Parliament. A 2014 assessment by the EU and Ghana revealed 148 permits and leases requiring parliamentary ratification, but only 11 have been ratified as of July 2024.
Speaking at a press conference, Doreen A. Yeboah, Member of Forest Watch Ghana, requested the Lands ministry to announce and publish a road map in consultation with all relevant stakeholders for the full implementation of our laws on sustainable forest management, including the trade in legal timber.
According to her, Ghana has missed all the timelines for the full implementation of the laws on sustainable forest management and logging, which are meant to eradicate illegal harvesting of timber and trade in forest resources.
With the inordinate delays by successive governments in fully implementing these laws, we are at a point where our forest reserves are becoming playgrounds for illegal activities.
On her part, Obed Owusu-Addai, member, says with the inordinate delays by successive governments in fully implementing these laws, we are at a point where our forest reserves are becoming playgrounds for illegal activities.
He therefore urged the government to take immediate action to address these challenges and ensure the sustainable management of Ghana’s forest resources.
The CSOs in the forest sector reaffirmed that they are ready to support the government in this process in any way they can to ensure that we protect our timber resources and forest reserves from illegal activities and ensure the trade in legal timber.
Source: oyerepafmonline.com/Bernard K Dadzie, Greater Accra Region
