Stakeholders in Ghana’s timber industry have been urged to strengthen compliance with forestry regulations and adopt sustainable practices to improve access to both local and international markets.

The call was made at a capacity‑building workshop on Corrective Action Requests (CARs) held in Assin Fosu in the Central Region for timber operators and industry players from Adansi Asokwa, Obuasi, New Adubiase, Dunkwa‑on‑Offin, Assin Fosu and Twifo Praso.

The training focused on regulatory standards, compliance procedures and the measures required to address infractions identified during inspections and audits within the forestry sector.

The programme forms part of the project titled “Advancing Good Forest and Mineral Governance to Reduce the Contribution of Timber Trade and Mining to Deforestation in Ghana, Liberia, and Cameroon,” funded by the UK Government through the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) programme.

Margaret Appiah, Senior Project Manager of the Nature and Development Foundation (NDF), said strengthening the capacity of timber industry players is essential to promoting responsible forest governance and sustainable forest management.

She noted that many operators still face challenges in understanding compliance requirements and documentation processes, making stakeholder engagement necessary to improve adherence to forestry regulations.

"It is in the laws of the forestry that, before you enter a forest to cut trees (timber) it should be tree that forestry commission has given you but most times, operators cut more than what you've given them after going back to check.

"And when it happens that way, the forestry commission will punish you and when you're working always punishing you and in all you'll be paying something small and by the time you realize you've spent your capital.

"And when you lose your capital, is not going to affect you but your workers which will create unemployment that is why we the NDF we've taken it upon ourselves to educate them to avoid small money taken from them," she advised.

Dr Frank Ankomah, Manager for the Timber Verification Department (TVD), explained that some companies continue to struggle to meet international standards owing to deficiencies in their production and operational systems.

According to him, these compliance gaps affect the clearance and export of timber products to both domestic and international markets.

He therefore urged stakeholders to ensure full legal compliance and to operate within the framework of the law to enable smooth access to markets.