Ghana is hoping to revive its dwindling timber trade with the European Union through a Voluntary Partnership Agreement programme.
Decline in the volume of premium species like Mahogany, Afromosia and Odum, as well as harvest restrictions and global financial meltdown account for a drop in timber trade between the two partners.
The Timber Validation Committee, however, expects to push for an improved transaction.
“For more than 10 years now, the volume of timber Ghana was exporting to the EU comprised 60 per cent of everything we were doing.
“For many reasons, it has dropped to 11 %. In doing this we are not just satisfying an EU market. We are making sure the law works,” says Director at the Timber Validation Department of the Forestry Commission, Chris Beeko.
It follows the successful acquisition of license and certification from the EU to legally harvest and export timber products to member countries.
The volume of timber trade between Ghana and its European partners dropped from 60 to 12 per cent with an annual value of less than 170 million, since 2009.
Ghana and the EU signed the Voluntary Partnership Agreement which requires all timber export products from Ghana are legally produced. It also ensures promotion and enforcement of forest laws and governance.
After meeting requirements of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade licensing scheme. (LEGT), Ghana can now export timber products to Europe.
Myjoyonline