Parliament Urges Lands Minister To Enforce Rosewood Ban

Parliament has urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to take steps to enforce the ban on the logging of rosewood across the country. 

Deliberating on the illegal logging of rosewood on the Floor of Parliament the MPs' called for a multi-sectoral approach at curbing the cutting down of the Timber to protect the environment and halt desertification in the Savanna Zone.
 
The lawmakers stated this when the MP for Builsa South Dr. Clement Apaak made a statement on the Floor of the House on the illegal harvesting of rosewood and its attendant destructive impact on the environment in the Builsa South District.  

He said the illegal loggers are destroying the remnant forest patches in the Savanna Zone and disregarding the ban on the logging of rosewood. 

Dr. Apaak called for stiffer punishment for people engaging in illegal logging in the area.

Rosewood is a fine grained timber used mainly for the production of high-end expensive furniture for the elite across the world especially in China. 

It is used also for making Chess pieces as well as parts of musical instruments. 

It is estimated that China alone imports close to 96 percent of all rosewood lumber exported out of Ghana. 

The Speaker of Parliament Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye after the discussion on the issue referred the statement on the illegal logging to the Committee responsible for Lands and Forestry for consideration and action. 

GBC