Lumber traders want tax exempt on imported woods

The Domestic Lumber Trade Association of Ghana (DOLTA), has asked for a waiver of taxes on imported wood to ensure that the domestic market is supplied  with  sustainable wood at affordable prices.

Mr Afreh Boakye, the Chief Executive Officer of the association, said the Government with other stakeholders had to work together to ensure that the domestic lumber market was adequately supplied with lumber to meet demand.

He said the country had a deficiency in timber now and if the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) signed between the government and the European Union, should start by the first quarter of next year, the domestic lumber market was likely to suffer greatly since most of the wood used on the local market were from illegal chainsaw operators.

Mr Afreh was addressing a two-day consultative workshop with stakeholders and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry.

The workshop, held at Ada Foah, was aimed at finding strategies to enhance the supply of legal lumber to the domestic market.

He said, if the VPA commenced, all woods which were being exported to Europe likewise, the ones sold on the Ghanaian market must come from a legal source, but this would cripple the local market.

To ensure that the domestic market was not found wanting, all stakeholders in the timber sector needed to share ideas and prepare adequately on how to get sustainable wood for the country.

Alhaji Amadu Seidu, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry, said the workshop had enhanced their capacity to be able to discharge their duties.

Source: GNA