The Forestry Commission has created two digital systems that allow property marks to be registered and renewed in a day rather than two months. The two platforms are the Digitalized Property Mark Registration and Renewal (e-property mark registration) and the Electronic Wood Tracking System.
These platforms by the Forestry Commission of Ghana are expected to alleviate the difficulties and bureaucracies that come with timber merchants’ operations in Ghana.
The e-property mark is a web-based registration system that gives a timber contractor a distinct identity in all transactions with the Forestry Commission whiles the Electronic Wood Tracking system allows the commission to track wood from the time of its harvest to when it has finally been disposed off.
Meanwhile Speaking at the launch, Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor,MP, emphasized the importance of digitizing the ministry processes to meet up with new standards.
“The technological infrastructure for accessing the international timber market and attracting the requisite investment demand a level of sophistication that yesterday’s systems and norms can no longer respond to. We must, therefore, innovate constantly, and keep pace with the technological advancements necessary to access the international market,” the minister said.
The platforms enable registrants to perform all aspects of property mark registration and renewal from the convenience of their own homes or businesses.
However, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, John Allotey, spoke of the challenges faced by timber contractors at the opening of the online platforms at Achiawkrom near Ejisu.
“If a contractor operates in three regions and five districts, he or she will need to personally show the relevant paperwork and gain clearance in each district. He or she would have to repeat this process twice a year. According to industry data, this process takes roughly two months on average.”
According to Mr. Allotey, contractors can now heave a sigh of relief.
“With these new applications, it would be possible to renew this property mark in a day in any district of your choice.”
The development of these new platforms demonstrates how collaboration with the Forestry Commission to address industry business difficulties is beginning to pay off,”he added.
“It is the desire of the industry that the electronic wood tracking system has come to alleviate all the issues involved with the documentation of timber harvesting and timber product transportation,”Dr. Kwame Adam, representing the Ghana Timber Millers Organisation, said.
