Accra: The Forestry Commission has convened a meeting with key industry stakeholders in a move to bolster the legality and sustainability of Ghana’s timber sector. The forum was organized to prepare stakeholders for the upcoming commencement of timber and timber product trading under the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) licence, set to take effect on 30 June 2025.
According to Ghana News Agency, the FLEGT licensing scheme, a result of Ghana’s Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union, represents a significant step towards ensuring that all timber exports and domestically consumed timber adhere to rigorous legality systems. Discussions at the forum focused on the operational aspects of the FLEGT licensing system, necessary compliance procedures, and the opportunities the new framework presents for the Ghanaian timber industry.
Dr. Hugh C.A. Brown, Executive Secretary of the Forestry Commission, stated that international partners, particularly the European Union, had been impressed by Ghana’s efforts in implementing a licensing regime for timber. He emphasized that the incorporation of digital systems into the Forestry Commission’s regulatory activities had enabled better management of the country’s forest resources. “Often, as a manager, if you don’t have all the data or information available, you can sometimes find yourself in difficulty. However, this system has helped us to know, with a simple click, for example, the volume of timber that has been harvested, how full those harvesting periods are, and who is harvesting where. This has improved our ability to regulate the sector effectively,” he explained.
Mr. Alexandra Dadzie, President of the Ghana Timber Association, expressed his hope that the Commission would address some of the concerns the association had raised regarding the licensing regime before its roll-out in June. “Our concerns involve a few issues concerning some of the committees that need to be formed. These committees would genuinely address some of our concerns or complaints to ensure a smooth process,” he said. He also pointed out that some of the laws lack clarity, particularly the law concerning complaints organizations. “I mean, with some of the reports from complaints organizations, once a resolution is reached, the report has to go to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources before they communicate with the complainant, and that seems to create a slight hold-up,” he said. He added that the President had requested that the Commission ensure complaints were forwarded to the Timber Validation Committee for a decision before being sent to the Minister.