Timber export earnings declined from 45,380,671 Euros in the first quarter of 2002 to 39,625,476 Euros in the first quarter of this year.

Total timber export volumes also declined from 110,120 cubic metres in the first quarter of 2002 to 105,075 cubic metres in the first quarter of this year.

The figures represented a decrease of 12.68 per cent in value and 4.58 per cent in volume for the two comparative periods.

Mr Thomas Broni, Deputy Minister of The Interior, announced these at the opening of a three-day Capacity-Building Workshop on Forestry Laws and Regulations and Export of Wood Products at the Wood Industries Training Centre at Akyawkrom, near Kumasi, on Monday.

He said the country could have achieved higher earnings from the export of wood products, if the regulatory agencies had exercised greater vigilance in the performance of their functions.

He, therefore, charged the regulatory agencies in the timber export sector to critically examine the statutes and procedures regulating the export trade and develop strategies that would enable the agencies to collaborate effectively and collectively in ensuring that Ghana derived the highest benefits from the sector.

Mr Broni, who was until recently a Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry, urged the participants of the workshop to seriously discuss the issue concerning the management of overland export of wood products to ensue that the country derived maximum returns from wood export.

Representatives from Custom, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) and Timber Industry Development Division of the Forestry Commission (FC) are attending the workshop.

It is aimed at sensitising the key players in the regulation of export of wood products and to discuss issues that would help increase wood export revenue for the country.

Mr Kwadwo Wireko-Brobbey, a member of the FC, said CEPS and GPHA as well as the Commission, were equally enjoined by the Constitution of Ghana to protect the country's resources and properties through their procedures on exports.

He said the Commission appreciated the part being played by the regulatory agencies in the preventive and protective efforts, adding that, the Commission would continue to sensitise them to improve their efficiency with the view to addressing collectively the issues of meeting the challenges of modern sophistication in export irregularities.

Mr Kofi Danquah, Assistant Commissioner of CEPS, said the Service had over the years, performed its duties with thoroughness and diligence.

He said CEPS would continue to enforce all laws and regulations that the FC would entrust to it.