Government urged to review ban on chainsaw operations

Techiman (B/A), April 13, GNA - Participants at a day's workshop on the effects of the ban on chainsaw operations, have issued a four point communiqu=E9, demanding a review of the ban. They noted that the existing law on timber resource management regulations, as amended in 2003 legislative instrument 1721 should be reviewed in view of the fact that "the law as it exists, is too cumbersome and rigid".

The communiqu=E9 also identified lack of adequate motivation, as disabling the various assemblies in ensuring the strict enforcement of the law and the security agencies helping in the enforcement of the law. The participants called on the government to support private participation in afforestation programmes, since there were weaknesses in the government's legislature ban on chainsaw operations and the indirect consequences the ban had on efforts towards forest preservation, rural communities and national development process. One hundred participants drawn Nkoranza, Wenchi, Tain, Kintampo and Techiman districts, attended the workshop organised by Forikrom afforestation volunteers and sponsored by Civil Society Strengthening Facility.

They included traditional rulers, staff of Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Forestry Commission, carpenters, farmers, chainsaw operators, Assembly Members, members of town councils and unit committees.

The workshop was aimed at streamlining the preservation and effective utilization of timber in the country and intended objectives, which the ban had not achieved, in view of the failure of government institutions to enforce the law.

Nana Kwao Adams, Forikrom Twafohene, noted that the negative consequences of the activities of chainsaw operators made the government to outlaw such operations.

He said all stakeholders in the country were guilty to the fact that the prohibition of the use of chainsaw to convert timber into lumber for sale was not being implemented.

Nana Adams, Chief Executive of Forikrom Afforestation Volunteers, called on the government to encourage chainsaw operators by allowing them to pay taxes, since they played a significant role in the housing and other construction industry.

Mr Pierre Kwabena Ankomah, Techiman Municipal Director of National Commission on Civic Education took the participants through the law that ensured the need for the registration of chainsaws by district assemblies, prohibition of landowners to permit use of unregistered chainsaw and the demand for chainsaw to mark stumps, among others. He said it was an undeniable fact that succeeding governments in the country had made efforts to streamline ways to preserve forestry resources and effective utilization of timber in the country, but unfortunately some citizens had not complied with the various laws. The NCCE Director cited that in 1974, (NRCD 273) of the "Trees and Timber Decree" was promulgated to ensure regulations of lumbering and exportation of timber, while the timber (amendment) Act 493 (1994) was also made to remedy the defects of the NRC decree 273 but chainsaw users had continued to usurp the measures, thereby deteriorating the environment.

Mr Ankomah noted that the latest Act, the Timber Resource Management regulation (amendment) 2003 LI 1721, promulgated for the same purpose, had neither been effective throughout the rural communities. He said even though the chainsaw operators had been identified as the major source of degradation of the forests, big time timber merchants, farmers and traditional rulers should be held responsible for the wanton destruction of the forests.