EU timber trade boost as FLEGT-licensed exports begin Oct 8

By Kizito CUDJOE

The European Union (EU) is set to begin receiving timber consignments accompanied by Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licences from Ghana on October 8, which marks a major step in the global push to ensure legality in the wood trade.

This development follows a recent issuance of the first FLEGT licence for wood products bound for the EU market, making Ghana the first country in Africa and only the second worldwide after Indonesia to attain this status.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, welcomed the development – describing it as “a bold statement that Ghana is committed to legality, transparency and sustainability in the global timber trade”.

To reinforce this licencing regime, the ministry has inaugurated a 10-member Timber Validation Committee. The body is tasked with overseeing applications for timber export licences, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks and making recommendations on rolling out the FLEGT scheme.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony in Accra, Mr. Buah underlined the forestry sector’s importance to the national economy, citing its role in creating jobs, generating foreign exchange and sustaining rural livelihoods.

He cautioned, however, that years of unsustainable practices have damaged the country’s reputation in international timber markets and undermined its forest resources.

He traced Ghana’s reforms back to the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) signed with the European Union in 2009 under the FLEGT initiative. This agreement, he said, commits the country to ensuring that timber exports derive from legal sources and meet internationally accepted standards of verification.

“The credibility of this committee remains crucial to the entire legality assurance system’s integrity,” he stressed. “Our international markets will rely on your work; our local industry will depend on your fairness and efficiency; and future generations will judge us by how well we protect and sustain our forest resources today.”

The minister urged the committee to discharge its responsibilities with diligence, impartiality and integrity, assuring them of government support and resources required to operate effectively.

He further encouraged members to uphold transparency and professionalism, noting that forests represent both a source of economic value and a heritage which must be preserved.

The Committee Chairman, Philip Fiifi Buckman – who also serves as Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwesimintsim, pledged on behalf of his colleagues to safeguard the trust placed in them.

He acknowledged the sector’s dual role as a driver of livelihoods and industrial growth, as well as a legacy for future generations. “Our forests are not only a source of livelihoods, foreign exchange and industrial raw materials but also a national heritage,” he said. “We intend to hold this heritage high.”

The committee assured government, industry stakeholders and the public of its commitment to professionalism, impartiality and collaboration with relevant institutions, while maintaining the independence necessary to uphold the credibility of Ghana’s timber legality framework.

The committee’s other members include Dr. Hugh Brown, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Forestry Commission; Mr. Joseph Osiakwan, Technical Director – Forestry, Ministry of lands and Natural Resources; Mr. Kwabena Akyeampong Boakye, Director – Timber Validation Division, TVD; and Nana Kwesi Agyeman IX, Paramount Chief of Lower Dixcove and member of the National House of Chiefs.

The rest are DCOP Frederick Kofi Blagodzi, Ghana Police Service; Mr. Alex Dadzie, President of Ghana Timber Industry Association; Mr. Mark Ofori Asantew, Trade Union Congress (TUC); Mr. Eric Bonney, Ghana revenue Authority (GRA) – Customs Division; and Mr. Mustapha Seidu, Nature and Development Foundation (NDF).

This latest development is expected to enhance confidence in the country’s timber exports, open stronger access to the European market and contribute to sustainable forest management practices.

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