Trucks loaded with rosewoods impounded at Damongo

Two trucks loaded with rosewood have been seized on Sunday, June 27, 2021. The drivers of trucks with registration GE-6517-X and GX-8801-X were arrested in a swift operation conducted by the Anti-rosewood task force.
The information available to Climate Insight indicates that the impounded trucks are parked at the Savannah regional office of the Forestry Commission. The two drivers are assisting the Ghana Police service with the investigation.

Background
According to a report by Global Forest Watch (GFW), on the status of the world’s primary forests, Ghana saw an alarming 60% decrease in the primary rainforest in 2018. It represents the highest percentage of rainforest loss of any tropical country.

In 2019, the government of Ghana placed an indefinite ban on the harvesting and export of rosewood. Despite the ban, the illegal trade of rosewood trade continues.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor raised alarm over the fast rate of depletion of Ghana’s forest cover. In response to this, the government of Ghana implemented the Green Ghana Project in June 2021. Under this initiative, 5 million trees were planted across the country to restore the huge loss of forest covers.