Ghana removes taxes on imported timber to boost forestry

03/07/2009

In a bid to increase the flow of raw materials for the timber industry, Ghana has announced it has removed taxes on all imported sawn timber and logs.

Vice President, John Mahama, made the announcement at the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) conference. He said that African countries need to work together to remove trading barriers to help the forestry industries.

The statement came in response to news from the ITTO that demand for Ghanaian timber had slumped as a result of the economic downturn.

Mahama added that sustainability is of paramount importance to the African forestry industry, saying, "sustainability of timber resources should be the prime objective of African nations". He said that Ghana has become a member of the EU’s voluntary partnership agreement which guarantees that all timber from the country comes from legal sources.

Programmes proposed include the development of commercial plantations on a large scale that will ultimately help employ people in rural areas and help to reduce poverty. In addition, there are plans to restore the depleted forests, which could fill the 3.5 million cubic metres a year in timber deficits and shortages.