Illegal rosewood felling catches attention of Ghana Parliament – Report

The Parliament of Ghana has reacted to the incidence of illegal rosewood felling in the country, and discussed steps to look into the matter, the Daily Graphic has reported.

According to the report in the Wednesday February 13, 2019 issue, the Parliamentary sub-Committee on Lands and Forestry has condemned the illegal act of felling rosewood particularly in the Builsa South District in the Upper East Region and in other parts of the country in general. Illegal rosewood felling in Ghana’s regions of the north has been gaining attention in the country, following news reports in various media.

The situation appears to be getting out of control. Last week, two men died from gunshot wounds following conflict between local people and illegal loggers of rosewood in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region.

An investigative report on rosewood felling in the Upper West Region by ghanabusinessnews.com in January titled ‘China’s lust for rosewood fuels logging in Ghana’s poorest region’ went viral and subsequently generated interest in the matter, including in Parliament. The Parliamentary Committee also made a visit to the area to ascertain the extent of the problem and has issued a report on the matter. The Speaker has asked that the Committee makes recommendations for the House.

The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak who raised the issue on the floor of Parliament, had shared the ghanabusinessnews.com story on his Facebook page with the accompanying post, “And the destruction of the savanna woodland ecological forest continues in the face of a so-called ban!”

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi