The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources; Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh has announced a ban of the felling of rosewood till further notice.
He submitted the illegal felling of the tree was affecting the afforestation efforts to re-green that part of the country. The minister stated the ban should help rid the space of harvesting and transportation of the rosewood.
He further rallied citizens to intervene to rescue the situation.
“The Regional and District Coordinating Councils, Regional Security Council (REGSEC), the District Security Council (DISEC), Traditional Authorities and other state and non-state institutions should join the fight against illegal harvesting of fresh logs as it was the case in the fight against Galamsey.”
Hon. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh who made the disclosure at a press briefing on March 11, 2019 also noted that the opinion leaders who are advocating for the ban on rosewood harvesting know the individual community members involved in the illegal felling so it was time they assisted in exposing those involved.
Demands in China and India have kept the illegal felling of rosewood particularly the northern parts in the country alive throwing the ecology of the area in disarray.
The indiscriminate felling of rosewood in the Upper West Region has also affected farming activities in the area reducing rainfall volumes and crop yield.
The battle with preserving rosewood or regulate its felling has led to suspensions and lifting of bans within short intervals according to Minister Asomah-Cheremeh.
In 2012, the ministry’s attention drawn to the incidences of indiscriminate harvesting of the species by charcoal producers, farmers and illegal operators.
Response: The harvesting and export of rosewood was temporarily suspended on August 31, 2012 by Mike Hammah; Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
Ban lifted: October 5, 2012.
Five companies; Boakyewaah Timbers, Kanbonse, Sidakon, Adu Tutu & sons and Time Concept were exempted from operating in the Bui Dam Reservoir areas to create safe fairways and to prevent accidents during lake transport.
On February 21, 2014; two companies were granted three month permits to lift rosewood. These companies were Meyiri Company and Commodities Procurement limited.
Despite the ban on rosewood still being force; the tree was felled without mercy, forcing Inusah Fuseini to reaffirm Cabinet’s decision to ban the harvesting, transportation, processing and exporting of rosewood on July 15, 2014. In March, 2019; another ban has been activated; it remains to be seen how long this ban is respected.
By Michael Eli Dokosi/goldstreetbusiness.com
