Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD)

History
The Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) has evolved from various post-independendce attempts, dating back to the early 1960s, at rationalizing the utilization of Ghana’s timber resource base along sustainable and development -oriented lines. These ideals cumulated in the establishment of the Ghana Timber Marketing Board (GTMB) in 1963 to regulate the export of timber and wood products. GTMB performed three key roles- export promotion market information dissemmination and timber inspection grading which, among other things, encompassed provision of data on the timber industry, product development, quality control, contract verification, approval and issuance of export permit.

In 1985, the government of the Provisional Nation Defence Council (PNDC), as part of the macro-economic policies and sectorial reform programme of its Economic Recovery Programme (ERP), enacted PNDC Law 123 and PNDC Law 117 to establish the Timber Export Development Board (TEDB) and the Forest Products Inspection Bureau (FPIB) to replace the GTMB.

The TEDB was primarily responsible for export promotion and market information dissemination and the FPIB responsible for contract verification, timber and wood products inspection, approvals, training of graders and issuance of export permits.

In 1999, the Forestry Commission Act, No. 571 (Forestry Commission Act, 1999) established the Forestry Commission and enjoined all the main public bodies and agencies – including the TEDB and the FPIB – implementing the functions of protection, development, management and regulation of forests and wildlife resources to be accountable to the new Forestry Commission.

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Mission Statement of TIDD
To provide specialized services in promoting efficiency in product quality assurance and value-addition in the Timber Industry and Trade consistent with best environmental practices.


Functions
For cost-effectiveness, efficiency and to be more customer-focused, the TEDD and the FPID were amalgamated in 2002 into the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD), headed by an Executive Director and with the following functions:

Establish guiding price systems for the vetting of contacts of export of wood products
Conduct pre-shipment inspection and examination of wood prducts and issue permits for the export of timber and wood products,
Publish market intelligence in order to inform industry, government and public regarding Pricing, Trade and Product trends that could impact on the sector,
Track the movement of logs from forest gates after the issuance of conveyance certificates,
Provide managment and technical training for the wood industry and undertake the certification and registration of authorized timber graders and establish levels of certification for such graders,
Monitor the supply of lumber to the local market by recognized millers with the support of the Forest Services Divsion,
Advise on approvals to establish new processing mills and register timber processors and traders in timber and wood products
Provide development signals to the industry and advise government on the adoption of appropriate incentive to foster efficiency and value addition,
Register claims in respect of sale of timber and wood products and appoint arbitrators in disputes involving grading and valuation of timber and wood products,
Collaborate with international and timber associations on marketing and utilisation of wood products and coordinate foreign technical assistance aimed at improving efficiency with the industry,
Grading and measuring of timber and wood products for export

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Business Registration with TIDD

1.All prospective buyers of timber and wood products are required to officially register with TIDD by completing TIDD Form B/119 for procesing and issuance of Buyers Registration Certificate. The certificate is valid for one calendar year and it is renewable upon re-application The registration fee is US$ 500.00 net .
Buyers Registration Form – TIDD Form B/119Buyers Renewal Form – TIDD Form BB/119
Online Buyers Registration Form – Please Click Here
2.All prospective exporters of timber and wood products are also required to officially register with TIDD by completing TIDD Form R/1 for processing and issuance of Exporters Registration Certificate. The certificate expires on 31st December every year and it is renewable upon re-application. Currently, the registration fee is GHC10.00
Exporters Registration Form – TIDD Form R/1Exporters Renewal Form – TIDD Form R/3
3.All Buyers’ Representatives are also obliged to register with TIDD to ensure the smooth operations of their businesses in the country. At the moment, the registration fee is GHC10.00
Buyers’ Representative / Agent’s Registration Form – TIDD Form R/5
4.The following categories of businesses are also required to register with TIDD
Canoe Manufacturer>>Form R/4
Bush Mill / Bench Top Operator>>Form R/4
Dealer in Wood Product>>Form R/4
Large Scale Furniture Manufacturers>>Form R/4
Small Scale Furniture Manufacturers>>Form R/4
Retailers of Wood Products>>Form R/4
Carver>>Form R/4

Registration forms for the various categories of business transactions could be obtained at TIDD offices in Kumasi, Tema, Accra and Takoradi.

Hotlines

Accra Office:233-(0)244-513221
Takoradi Office:233-(0)244-102884, (0)244-716742, (0)208-088510
Tema Office:233-(0)208-711100
Kumasi Office:233-(0)243-556143


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Species in Export
The following timber species are currently being exported by Ghana on the world market:

MahoganyWawa/ObecheOdumMakoreSapeleAfromosiaKoto/Kyere
EdinamUtileOfram (Black &White)EmireNiangonChenchenCeiba
DantaKussiaDahomaAvodireBlack HyeduaYayaOtie
Papao/ApaWawabimaHotrohotroWalnutCedrellaKakuGuarea
DenyaAnantaDuabankyeKromaAlbiziaTeakMansonia
AsanfinaEssaOgeaWamaBerekankumGmelinaWatapuo
RubberwoodYayaEdinamAyanCandolleiBombaxCedrella
EssiaBerliniaOhaaAlbiziaBompegyaGmelinaAkasa
PotrodomWamaAfinaOkoumeSubaha etc.

The non-timber wood species are Bamboo, Coconut, Cane and Rattan.

Products in Export
These products include:

Sawn Timber/Lumber (Kiln Dried)Sawn Timber/Lumber (Air Dried)Boules (Kiln Dried)Boules (Air Dried)Sliced Veneer
Rotary VeneerCurls VeneerPlywoodMouldingsDowels
BroomsticksFurniture & Furniture PartsProfile BoardsLayonsT & G
Parquet / FlooringBlock BoardsPolesBillets etc.


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Trading Partners
Ghana’s trading partners in timber and wood products cut across almost all countries in the world. Notable among them are the following:

United KingdomGermanyItalyHollandSwitzerland
BelgiumFranceIrelandSpainlas Palmas
PortugalAustriaBulgariaDenmarkFinland
NorwayPolandTurkeyPakistanSaudi Arabia
LebanonMaltaKuwaitBarbadosSyria
JordanCyprusIsraelEgyptIndonesia
JapanThailandYugoslaviaGreeceRomania
ChinaMalaysiaAustraliaNew ZealandUSA
CanadaMoroccoRussiaTaiwanVietnam
PhilippinesMauritiusUnited Arab EmiratesLibyaQatar
GuatemalaDominican RepublicIndiaSingaporeSouth Korea
CambodiaRe-union IslandBrazilBangladeshEhiopia
TunisiaSudanSouth AfricaAngolaNiger
MaliNigeriaBeninTogoSenegal
Burkina FasoGambiaSierra leoneLiberiaIvory Coast
Cape Verde etc.


Species being Promoted
The under-listed timber species are found in commercial quantities in Ghana’s forest reserves which have not been subjected to any serious levles of exploitation:

AnantaAsomaAvodireBerekankumDahomaDantaEssaEssakokooEssiaOhaa
RosewoodSindroWawabimaWatapuoYayaPapao/AfzeliaCedrellaKakuBompegyaAprokuma
TetkonBodweBubingaOfram (Black & White)AfinaKokoteetc.