With the ban, the domestic market has become starved of wood products, especially lumber. The government has adopted some measures to improve supply to the domestic market but without the active involvement of the key members of the leading industry associations, of which GTMO, the results expected may not be attained. The situation has a potential of inciting social disturbances in the future since local people are unable to access the wood they need for their buildings and furniture. Forest Depletion Ghana experiences deforestation like most countries in Africa. The Sahara Desert is said to be advancing southwards at a threatening rate and this translates into increased savanization of the forest areas.
Deforestation is, indeed, a phenomenon occasioned by increase in numbers of human beings.
There are more mouths to feed than 50 years ago when the population of Ghana was less than 6 million. Farming activities have increased and demand for energy has also increased. Indeed, the Ministry of Mines and Energy has it on official record that charcoal industry and woodfuel account for 15 million m 3 of trees removed annually from the forest. Probably, if measures were to be taken to curtail this unacceptable level of woodfuel and charcoal consumption, the rate of forest destruction would be reduced to manageable levels. The rationale behind the government's policy is that when others are removed from the management system, their actions, wilful or otherwise, will adversely affect the sustainable forest management plans.