Ashanti timber exporters go to school

Timber merchants particularly within Kumasi and its surrounding districts in the Ashanti Region have undergone a day’s sensitization workshop using the eMDA in processing and approval of timber export permit online using the GcNET platform.

The purpose of the sensitization workshop according to experts is to reduce time in processing Timber Export Permits, make timber export much easier for the exporting firms as well as elimination bottlenecks inherent in the old system of processing export documentation.

The sensitization workshop also hopes to minimize or eliminate malpractices on the timber trade, enhance traders’ export capabilities and bring sanity into the timber trade. Exporters will also have the luxury of submitting export permit applications at the comfort of their offices using the internet.

According to officials of the TIDD, the electronic processing of documents would enable them to easily access data from the GcNET data base for a much quicker and decision making.

The workshop which was put together by the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of the Forestry Commission brought on board major stakeholders in the timber export trade. These included CEPS, Forestry and Wood Workers Association of Ghana FAWWAG and GcNET.

Mr Eben Tawiah Engman, a senior Product Specialist of the GcNET who took participants through the sensitization workshop mentioned how to access the website and submit applications to the TIDD, how to respond to queries and how to easily access data from the GcNET database.

Ghana-eMDA Portal enables the electronic processing of documents needed within the trade industry. The system enables online submission, approval, and distribution of permits and licenses to Ministries, Departments and Government Agencies. These documents are requested by Importers, Exporters, and other Service Providers within the trading community.