The government has banned the felling and exportation of rosewood in the country.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources announced the ban on the felling, harvesting and exportation of rosewood in the country.
The Ministry cited the “abuse of permits granted some loggers to harvest rosewood in the catchment area of the Bui dam” as the reason for the imposition of the ban.
According to the statement, President Mahama noted that “illegal logging and galamsey are combining to destroy the country’s environment,” when he met with the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi.
The Ministry statement, however, gave no indication as to when the ban would be lifted.
Find the full statement from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources below:
FELLING, HARVESTING AND EXPORTATION OF ROSEWOOD BANNED
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills, has announced a ban on the felling, harvesting and exportation of rosewood in the country.
The ban follows the abuse of permits granted some loggers to harvest rosewood in the catchment area of the Bui dam. It has been found out that while some are abusing their permits and harvesting rosewood at various other locations, others have been exporting the raw wood for processing.
President John Mahama raised this issue during his meeting with the
National House of Chiefs in Kumasi last week, noting that illegal logging and galamsey are combining to destroy the country’s environment.
Signed:
Nii Osah MILLS
MINISTER FOR LANDS & NATURAL RESOURCES
Accra–‐ July 23rd, 2014
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana