Ghana is poised to become the first African country—and only the second globally—to issue a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license by June 30, 2025. The announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, during a courtesy visit by the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Irchad Razaaly, on Tuesday.
The meeting, held at the Ministry, reaffirmed the enduring partnership between Ghana and the EU, with a focus on sustainable forest governance.
“This is a historic milestone. All is set for the issuance of Ghana’s first FLEGT license. The only outstanding task is the ratification of a second batch of Timber Utilization Contracts (TUCs), which we expect Parliament to address after the Easter break,” said Hon. Buah.
The FLEGT license is a core component of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) signed between Ghana and the EU, which was ratified by Ghana’s Parliament in 2009. It certifies that timber and timber products exported to the EU are legally sourced and fully compliant with national laws—marking a significant stride toward responsible and sustainable forest management.
Highlighting the EU’s critical role in Ghana’s economy, the Minister noted that the bloc accounted for roughly 14% of Ghana’s external trade in 2022. He stressed the importance of sustained EU collaboration in strengthening the country’s forest governance systems.
Priority areas for partnership, he said, include investments in logistics, capacity building, and technology to fully operationalize the Wood Tracking System (WTS) and the Ghana Legality Assurance System (GhLAS). He also appealed for support in establishing large-scale commercial plantations and advancing the government’s flagship “Tree for Life” Reforestation Initiative.
Hon. Buah further called for EU assistance in tackling illegal mining, reclaiming degraded lands, restoring polluted water bodies, and modernizing the timber industry. He emphasized the pressing need for climate financing to support Ghana’s long-term forest sustainability goals.
He concluded by thanking the EU for its steadfast support and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in the sustainable management of Ghana’s natural resources.
Story by Sheila Otuo Baffour