Context

Also known as the timber legality licence, the FLEGT licence is a document issued by timber-producing countries that have ratified a voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) with the EU.

The FLEGT confirms that shipment of timber or timber products have been legally produced under the relevant laws of the country of harvest. It also ensures that timber exported to the EU by partner countries is harvested legally, thereby promoting sustainable forest management.

The acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, presented the certificates to the companies at the launch of the FLEGT licensing regime on the premises of the Forestry Commission in Accra yesterday.

The event brought together policymakers, regulators and other players in the forestry sector.

Key personalities at the event included the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefou Amoakwa Buadu VIII; Ghana’s Ambassador to Togo, Capt. George Kofi Nfojoh, and the Deputy Head of Delegation, EU Delegation to Ghana, Jonas Claes.

Having received the certificates, the companies have begun the process to export timber and timber products to destinations such as Italy, Germany and Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia.

The issuance of the certificates makes Ghana the first country in Africa and second in the world, only after Indonesia, to export timber and timber products to the EU market under the FLEGT licence regime.

Worthy milestone

A speech delivered by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Innocent Haligah, on behalf of the Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the launch of the FLEGT licence was a major step towards the sustainable management of the country’s forest reserves.

He said it was refreshing that the journey to acquiring a FLEGT licence, which started in 2009, with the signing of the voluntary partnership agreement (VPA), had seen the light of day.

"This milestone has been achieved through collaborative efforts of both state and non-state institutions, including civil society organisations, who have been following keenly and putting pressure on duty bearers, and we can all be happy now for how far with have come," he said.

Mr Buah said the entire FLEGT licence process, which spanned many political regimes, meant that through collaboration, the country could achieve greatness.  

He observed that the licence was an opportunity to expand the timber market and ensure that timber resources were sustainably harvested and managed well.

Mr Buah cautioned persons who were engaged in illegal logging and illegal mining to move out of forest zones before the law caught up with them.

"These people should know that we are coming for them. We will come hard at them; the field day is over, and there is no hideout for them," he stressed.

The acting Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Dr Hugh Brown, said the issuance of the FLEGT licensing certificates was a call on companies in the forest sector to get their act together and operate within the legal framework.

He also urged all those engaged in illegal logging, illegal mining and other crimes in the forest ecosystem to stop.

Solidarity

While commending Ghana for chalking up a historic feat, Mr Claes said the EU was committed to supporting the country to succeed in sustainably managing forest resources.

"Today is a big day for EU-Ghana relations and sustainability, as we go live on the FLEGT licences, which marks a significant step in Ghana’s commitment to trade in legal timber and wood products, combating illegal logging and promoting good forest governance," he said.

Mr Claes added that the issuance of FLEGT licences combined environmental and economic virtues as it would facilitate and boost trade in legal timber products while also promoting sustainable forest management.

The EU?envoy added that the issuance of an FLEGT licence by Ghana was not the end of the road but required the country to play according to the rules of engagement.

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and ultimately, we must focus on increasing trade in legal timber products while tackling deforestation and biodiversity loss," he said.

Support

He gave an assurance that the EU would support Ghana every step of the journey.

For instance, he said the EU was in the process of procuring IT equipment worth €400,000 for the Forestry Commission and its offices.

"More support is underway. We are planning for an additional €37 million towards the improved management and conservation of natural resources — both land and forests. 

“These funds will help to combine integrated landscape approaches, with support for value chains (cocoa in central Ghana, cashew in northern Ghana),” he added.

Mr Claes added that there was a need for a concerted effort to curb the devastating environmental effects of illegal gold mining, including its impact on the country’s forests.

Background

Initially, it was expected that beginning June 15, this year, all timber products that will be exported from Ghana to the EU market would conform to the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licence requirement, making the country the first African country and the second in the world to meet the requirement.

However, the delayed ratification of the timber rights by Parliament made it impossible to meet that deadline.

Finally, Parliament ratified 131 Timber Utilisation Contracts (TUCs), paving the way for Ghana to issue the FLEGT licence for the export of timber and timber products to the EU market.

The milestone, which was achieved on July 24 this year, put the country in a good position to meet the October 8, 2025, deadline set by the EU for trade in timber under the Ghana-EU voluntary partnership agreement (VPA).

The ratification of the TUCs came as an icing on the cake as the EU declared Ghana a low-risk country under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).