Lands Minister Inaugurates Timber Validation Committee

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has officially inaugurated the Timber Validation Committee, as a step in Ghana’s efforts to uphold transparency, legality and sustainability in the timber industry.

The Committee, which is a central pillar of Ghana’s timber legality assurance system, is mandated to oversee the processing of timber licensing applications, ensure compliance with national legal frameworks and make recommendations on the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensing system.

In his inaugural address in Accra last week, Minister Armah-Kofi Buah emphasised the importance of the forestry sector to Ghana’s economy, describing it as a source of employment, livelihoods, foreign exchange and environmental stability.

However, he acknowledged the growing challenges of unsustainable practices that have undermined the credibility of timber exports and jeopardised forest resources.

“As you are all aware, the forestry sector is one of the pillars of our national economy, yet over the years, unsustainable practices have threatened not only the reputation of our timber exports but also the very foundation of our forest resources.”

He mentioned ongoing reforms of the government in collaboration with stakeholders, referencing the 2009 Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union under the EU-FLEGT initiative, which commits Ghana to exporting only legal timber products.

The Minister proudly noted that Ghana recently issued its first FLEGT license, becoming the first country in Africa and second globally after Indonesia, to do so. These licenses certify that timber exports meet strict legal and sustainability criteria.

In furtherance of this, the EU is expected to receive its first shipment of Ghanaian timber accompanied by FLEGT licenses on October 8th, 2025 underscoring the country’s dedication to legal and transparent trade.

Minister Armah-Kofi Buah stressed the importance of the Committee’s work, stating that its credibility would underpin the entire legality assurance system: “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.”

He called on the newly sworn-in members to serve with diligence, impartiality and integrity, urging them to make the Committee “a beacon of good governance and accountability in our forestry sector.”

The inauguration comes at a time when Ghana is intensifying efforts to balance economic growth with environmental preservation.

The Committee is expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring that both domestic and international timber trade aligns with legal standards, further enhancing Ghana’s reputation as a responsible timber-exporting country.

The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting the Committee with the necessary resources and called on members to always place the national interest above all.

“With your leadership and dedication, we can build a resilient and transparent timber industry that protects our natural heritage and contributes meaningfully to national development,” he said.

The Timber Validation Committee now begins its work with a clear mandate and a significant responsibility to help safeguard one of Ghana’s most valuable natural resources.

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