Ghana : Indicators

The timber resource allocation system was reformed under Act 547, Timber Resource Management Act, 1997 (amended by Act 617 2002). Under this Act, the timber resource is allocated competitively and the contract holder enters into a contract with the Government to utilize and manage the timber resource on stated Terms and Conditions. However, there has been little compliance in the implementation of the law, such that the allocation of timber resources has continued to be through administrative and ministerial directives.
Indeed there seems to be an escalation of the situation. In December 2010 civil society obtained a list of 120 areas, including 23 Forest Reserves (with one Globally Significant Biodiversity Area), given out as salvage permits to companies under spurious and non-transparent circumstances to harvest trees of various species in contravention of the spirit of the law LI 1721 (2002) in which competitive bidding is the recommended mode of timber rights allocation (http://loggingoff.info/document/over-100-illegal-salvaging-permits-issued-2010).