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.
The coalition of Civil Society Organizations under Forest Watch Ghana has raised concerns about Ghana’s forest resources and timber trade being jeopardized due to government inaction on implementing the legal framework for legal timber trade. This issue threatens Ghana’s access to the European Union market.
Speaking at a press conference today, Doreen A. Yeboah Executive Member 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 them, 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 the full implementation of these laws, we are at a point where our forest reserves are becoming playgrounds for illegal activities.
Obed Owusu-Addai, the member says with the inordinate delays by successive governments in the full implementation of 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
