The Concerned Timber Contractors of Ghana have issued a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama and the current NDC administration to urgently reform the Forestry Commission, warning that Ghana’s timber industry is on the verge of collapse due to persistent policy failures and systemic mismanagement.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, the Convener of the group, Mr. Bright Kwesi Nkeyasen, called for a comprehensive restructuring of the Commission to align with President Mahama’s broader governance and reform agenda.
“The time has come for a serious reset of the Forestry Commission.
We need bold leadership and clear policy direction to save this critical sector,” Mr. Nkeyasen said.
“We are ready to support the government with all the necessary information and guidance needed to revive the timber industry for the benefit of Ghana.”
Mr. Nkeyasen outlined several challenges confronting the sector, including:
Inconsistent policies and poor regulatory enforcementhave created uncertainty and discouraged private investment.
Widespread illegal logging and weak monitoring systems continue to undermine sustainable forest management.
Delays in issuing timber utilisation contracts and permitsare frustrating the operations of legitimate contractors.
Lack of transparency and fairness in the allocation of forest resources leads to perceptions of favouritism and corruption.
Neglect of local timber businesses, which are struggling to survive in the face of competition from illegal operators and unfair practices.
He stressed that without urgent intervention, thousands of jobs could be lost and the country’s already-depleted forest reserves could face irreversible damage.
The group urged the government to treat the concerns of timber contractors with urgency and work with stakeholders to chart a path toward a more sustainable and transparent forest management regime.
“The timber sector has enormous potential to contribute to Ghana’s economic recovery, rural development, and job creation. But this can only happen if the right reforms are undertaken,” Mr. Nkeyasen concluded
Source: Classfmonline
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