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.
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.