The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor has announced that Ghana will deliver its first consignment of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) -licensed and labelled timber to the European Union (EU) on June 30, 2025.
He disclosed this at the 12th session of the Ghana EU joint monitoring review mechanism of the voluntary partnership agreement on Wednesday in Accra.
The achievement, he said, would make Ghana the first African country to reach this landmark, placing it as the only African nation on track to comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on the trade in timber and timber products.
“I eagerly anticipate this milestone as Ghana joins Indonesia in trading FLEGT-licensed timber in the EU market,” he remarked.
Mr Jinapor stated that Ghana has chosen to uphold the highest standards of timber legality and sustainability, regardless of the timber’s destination market.
He stated, “Without a doubt, establishing a legal assurance system, as envisioned under the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative, is a remarkable endeavour for good governance.”
He disclosed that Ghana could have opted for a more expedient path by focusing solely on timber traded with the European Union.
However, the country has decided to apply the same stringent compliance measures to all timber harvested and processed within its borders.
“While we could have opted for a shorter path by focusing solely on timber traded with the EU, we chose to uphold the same standards of compliance with laws that encompass environmental, social and economic principles for all timber harvested and processed in Ghana,” Jinapor explained.
Ghana’s position in this, according to the minister, ensures that the legality and sustainability of Ghanaian timber is consistently scrutinised, whether the timber is destined for domestic, regional, or international markets.
This comprehensive approach sets a new benchmark for responsible forestry management in the region.
He said the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), signed in 2009, has been a transformative journey for Ghana, modernising the technical and governance structures of the forestry sector.
“The successful implementation of the VPA is not just about compliance; it is about creating a legacy of responsible stewardship that benefits all stakeholders involved,” he said.
With the support of the European Union and the United Kingdom’s development cooperation, Ghana has made significant strides in developing its technical systems, training forest auditors and implementing independent auditing requirements under the agreement.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
