Ghana will import logs from Cameroon after losing its forest cover, which stood at 8.2 million hectares a little over a century ago. The imports will feed mills in Ghana. Source: IHB
Recently, Minister of Lands & Natural Resources, Mike Hammah, led a team to Cameroon to explore how Ghana could buy logs from the West Central African country while it restores its forests.
Ghana’s forests once covered about one-third of Ghana’s total area and were the main source of exports. Until recently, timber was the country’s third largest foreign exchange earner and the forestry sector was the highest recipient of aid and commercial credits.
Indiscriminate felling of trees by individuals and illegal chain saw operators, coupled with bad farming practices, bush fires and many other issues have been identified as the causes of deforestation.
The visit was conducted in pursuit of the International Tropical Timber Organisation’s (ITTO) vision of promoting intra-African trade in timber and timber products.
It also provided an opportunity for Ghana to explore the possibility of importing logs, sawn timber and veneer from Cameroon to feed mills in Ghana and identify areas of collaboration to promote bilateral trade in timber.
