The Forestry Commission (FC) has convened a meeting with key timber industry players on the export of timber, wood and wildlife products on the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license issuance set to take off on June 30. The gathering sought to provide enlightenment on the preparatory work towards the issuance of the FLEGT licenses and the role of stakeholders in ensuring a smooth transition.
FLEGT is a legally binding accord between the European Union (EU) and a non-EU timber-exporting country. Its primary objective is to ensure that timber and timber products exported to the EU are legally sourced and derived from sustainably managed forests.
Ghana and the EU finalised the first of this Agreement in November 2009, following a structured negotiation process that took place from March 2007 to September 2008. This Voluntarily Partnership Agreement (VPA) embodies the shared commitment of both parties to combat illegal logging and prevent the trade of unlawfully sourced timber. It establishes a robust legal framework aimed at promoting sustainable, transparent, and accountable forest governance.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Kwabena Akyeampong Boakye Esq., Director, Timber Validation Department (TVD), indicated that the meeting serves as preparatory grounds for the industry with respect to the issuance of the FLEGT license which had been a work in progress since November 2024 when it was first announced and the VPA was first signed.
The Acting (Ag.) Chief Executive (CE) of FC, Dr. Hugh Brown in a statement, hammered on June 30, 2025 as the set date to roll-out the issuance of the FLEGT licenses. He craved the indulgence of stakeholders to put in all efforts to make this a reality without any more extensions and gave a brief history of the more than 15 years journey embarked on by Ghana and the European Union (EU) which started by signing the VPA. The Ag. CE emphasised on the need to ensure that all parties involved in the issuance of FLEGT licenses are prepared and added that the Commission has worked hard to improve its policies relating to sustainable forest management. “We felt that it was the right way to go because it adds to sustainable forest management and ensures that key stakeholders or owners of the resource get their fair share of what was due them which was being lost through illegal logging”, Dr. Brown stated.
He furthered that, “we need to be sure that we are all on the same page, we are all ready and prepared, this meeting is just one of the many engagements with the timber industry to ensure that you understand what we are getting ourselves into and how we need to be threading going forward”.
He mentioned that the creation of a multi-stakeholder platform has helped to discuss issues with civil society, industry and government being the key actors.
The sponsors of the event, the Nature Development Foundation presented a report on the current state of the overland export to the Dr. Brown and urged him to help make improvements and recommendations on how to better address issues relating to overland export.
The Director, TVD, gave a presentation on the Overview of the Ghana Legality Assurance Systems (GhLAS) and FLEGT license roll out. He explained that the FLEGT license is a legal document issued under the FLEGT Action Plan of the European Union. Adding that the document certifies that timber and timber products exported to the EU from Ghana or used by domestic consumers have been legally harvested, transported, processed and traded according to the laws of the country.
He emphasised that industry players are expected to ensure self-compliance with legal and GhLAS requirements, manage business operations aimed at ensuring compliance and data integrity and operate in strict compliance with Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulations. He added that since July 2024, training and capacity building has been organised for 404 participants drawn from 322 companies in Kumasi and Sunyani.
He mentioned that the GWTS has been enhanced to address industry needs and European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements with a pre-shipment testing underway to identify and address any challenges in relation to the issuance of the FLEGT License and its receipt by the competent authorities in the European Union. He entreated industry players to avoid any trade in timber without compliance to regulations and to contact FC should any challenge arise.
Mr. Dennis Osei-Hwere Esq., Director, Corporate Legal Affairs, delivered a presentation on Legal Requirements and Compliance. He stated that the 79 regulations under the L.I 2254 requires compliance by the industries. He mentioned that a person shall require a license to trade timber domestically or export timber and timber products. “It is an offence to go contrary to these regulations”.
He elaborated that a person who intends to trade in timber must apply in writing to FC and upon recommendation from TIDD, the Commission takes a decision. “A license granted is not transferrable and an expired license must be returned to the Commission”, he stated.
Mr. Osei-Hwere added that a license is valid from the day it is issued and it is valid for 21 days if it is for export and 31 days for domestic distribution. The Commission has the right to suspend a license based on certain conditions; failure to comply with terms and conditions or doing something that contravenes any provision under the L.I 2254, he cautioned. “A person aggrieved by a decision of the Commission with FLEGT Licenses may within 7 days of being notified of the decision, submit a complaint in writing to the Timber Validation Committee (TVC) for a review of the decision”, he stated.
In the event of loss, theft or destruction of an original license, he cautioned that the licensee shall, within 14 days of the incident apply to the Commission for a replacement of the license accompanied by a police report. He hammered that all expired licenses need to be returned to the Commission.
The Ag. Executive Director, TIDD, Dr. Richard Gyimah, gave a presentation on the step-by-step guidelines to FLEGT Licenses issuance and export permits. He stated that FLEGT guidelines provide a clear pathway with regards to the export of timber and wood products. He explained that the process to receiving an export permit and FLEGT License starts with the registration of a company with the Registrar of Companies, then with TIDD. He elaborated on securing an approved contract of sale and the processes to finally submitting the FLEGT license to the EU competent authority.
Dr. Gyimah entreated industry players to take note that the license is a printed on a standard A4 size paper with FC watermark logo, a seal and must be individually stamped taking cognisance of all legalities discussed about validity periods, suspension and cancellation, loss, stolen or destroyed license.
Dr. Frank Ankomah, Manager, Field Verification and Audit, delivered a presentation on the “Do’s and Don’ts” for industry operators where he highlighted key issues for compliance to ensure that staff, loggers and millers abide by seven (7) principles that govern the source of timber, timber rights allocation, timber harvesting operations, transportation, processing, trade, and fiscal obligations. Touching on a few of the “Do’s”, he encouraged industry operators to sign and execute social responsibility agreements (SRA) with communities in and around the contract area, mark all logs appropriately and clearly on both ends with white waterproof paints, do well to stop at every FC checkpoint for inspection and validation and ensure logs are graded and passed for milling before processing. He also said that stakeholders need to operate within their allocated yield at all times.
On the “Don’ts”, Dr. Ankomah highlighted the following; Don’t operate when you have defaulted in honouring your statutory obligation; Don’t mingle any timber products for purpose of export or sale on domestic market and Do not transport logs on weekends unless one has a weekend permit.
The meeting concluded with a question and answer session where industry players aired out their concerns and challenges.