Parliament wants review of timber law

Let's have clean electioneering campaign - Justice Annan 

Accra (Greater Accra) 12 Jan 2000

The Timber Resource Management Act, (Act 547), may be reviewed as a result of concerns expressed by Members of Parliament on the scarcity of lumber.

"Issues that we did not anticipate have come up in the implementation of the instrument. I think the Minister (Lands and Forestry), would have to come and explain certain things to the House" Mr Justice Daniel F. Annan, the Speaker, said on Tuesday.

The law, which regulates the exploitation and use of timber, came up for discussion when Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, issued a statement on the scarcity of lumber in his constituency.

He said the implementation of the law has led to several problems, which if not addressed, would lead to opposition to the law to a "fever pitch".

"Thousands of chainsaw operators have been rendered jobless and have become social liabilities".

The Member said the inadequate supply of lumber and other timber products have led to the high price of the commodity.

Mr Kedem called for the establishment of lumber depots in district capitals to ease the current shortage.

"I appeal to (the) government to institute effective measures to supply lumber and other timber products at affordable price to the people"

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, NPP-Sekondi, said the sentiments expressed by Mr Kedem have vindicated those who opposed the law right from the beginning.

"This law evoked a lot of opposition from many stakeholders of the timbers industry, who were listened to and later labelled as selfish segments of the population."

He said the idea that some sawmills would cover the local market was simply a "figment of the imagination", because most millers target the foreign market before considering local ones.

Mr Appiah-Kubi, NDC-Jaman, called for the setting up of mills in remote areas to enable the people to make the best use of their timber resources.

Sqn Leader Clend Sowu (rtd), NDC-Anlo, countered that it is not possible to have mills all over the country.

He said that would not make for good financial and engineering practice.

The Member rather asked players in the timber industry to improve their marketing strategies to lessen the frustrations of the people.

Mr Freddie Blay, Second Deputy Speaker, called for the review of the law, saying, this has brought about "bureaucracy and a kind of tyranny" that has brought suffering to rural communities.

Mr Kwadwo Osafo Marfo, NPP-Akim Oda, said the implementation of the law has encouraged corruption in the industry.

He said members of the Task Force who are supposed to enforce the law are reportedly exploiting the system for financial gain.

Ms. Christine Churcher, NPP-Cape Coast, said the shortage and high price of lumber and timber products has had a bad affect on the fishing industry.

She said fishermen go through a lot of frustration before getting timber for the construction of canoes.

GRi../

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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 Jan. 2000

Members of Parliament were on Tuesday urged to employ clean strategies in campaigning for their re-election.

"Your campaign should not bring down the democratic process but should rather raise the image of the country," Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan, the Speaker, said.

He was welcoming MP's to the fourth and last session of Parliament, which reconvened after recess on 22 December 1999.

The Speaker asked the lawmakers to focus on national issues and to avoid unnecessary partisan politics.

He revisited the issue of punctuality, which has been the "Achilles' heel" of the legislative body for the past three years.

"We should be more serious about the work we do here; we should be punctual and present all the time ". Busy moments lie ahead of the House this year, he said and called for their co-operation.

The business statement of Parliament said the public would have the opportunity to scrutinise the House at a forum to be held on Wednesday at the National Theatre.

On Thursday, 13 January 2000 the President would deliver his last sessional address to the House.

The statement said the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and the Central Regional Minister would answers questions from members on Friday.

GRi../

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