Ghana's extractive timber resource within allowable limit - Minister

Accra, May 26, GNA - About 760,953m3 of timber was extracted from the wood resources of the state in 2009, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Mike Allen Hammer announced on Thursday.

He said the amount comprised 273,226.50m3 for the off reserved areas and 487,726.50m3 for the on reserve areas, which was within the allowable two million cubic metres of harvesting in the natural forests.


He said this during question time in Parliament in Accra.


On the royalties paid to the Office of the Administration of Stool Land (OASL), the Minister said the total amount was GH¢48,2669,093.03 for the year.


Mr Hammer said the 1992 Constitution article 268 (6) and Section 8 of the OASL Act 1994 (Act 481), gave the disbursement formulae as 10 per cent of the revenue accruing from the stool lands to be paid to the OASL to cover the administrative expenses.


He explained that the remaining revenue according to the formulae was disbursed in the following proportions - 25 per cent to the stools through the traditional authority; 20 per cent to the traditional authority and 55 per cent to the District Assembly.

Commenting on the regional distribution of the royalty paid to the OALS, he stated that Western Region received GH¢32,729,271.09, representing 67.80 per cent; Ashanti Region, GH¢7,869,274.46 representing 16 per cent; and Brong Ahafo Region had GH¢7,328,844.30 constituting 15.18 per cent.


The Central, Greater Accra, Eastern and Upper West regions together realised a total of GH¢ 344,703.19, representing 0.72 per cent.


He said in the Western Region, Goldfield Ghana Limited paid an amount of GH¢134,680; Abosso Gold Field, GH¢ 45,564,908.16; Anglogold Ashanti (Iduapriem), GH¢26,635,329.08; Golden Star Wasa, GH¢17,576,446.33; Anglogold Bibiani, GH¢15,315,383.61; Bogoso Goldfields Limited, GH¢13,537,021.34; GH Manganese Co. Limited, GH¢13,163,270.33; Golden Star Bogoso/Prestea, GH¢11,887,310.63 and Chirano mines gave GH¢11,535,704.43.


Mr Hammer noted that in the Brong Ahafo Region, Newmont Ghana paid GH¢73,066,729.83; Taysec Construction Limited, GH¢ 191,208.50 while Nsemmre Quarry Limited paid GH¢20,847.20.


In the Ashanti Region an amount of GH¢74,230,218.82 was paid by Anglogold Ashanti (Obuasi); GH¢1,815,668.60 was paid by Resolute Amansie Limited and Amanasie Resources Limited paid GH¢540,283.04.