In a first for Africa, Ghana’s timber now enjoys fast-lane access to EU markets, cementing a milestone in sustainable, legally verified forestry. The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license negotiated over 16 years with the European Commission, certifies that all logging in Ghana is legal, carried out with the consent of local communities, and includes compensation in cash or in kind. The license allows traders to export timber to the EU without additional legality checks, a landmark step officially celebrated on November 4 in Brussels.
The FLEGT license is supported by both Ghanaian industry and civil society and is underpinned by strict national rules for forestry management, timber tracking and trade. of Samartex Timber and Plywood’s Managing Director, Richard Nsenkyire, hailed the license as “the beginning of a new era in compliant international trade” and a guarantee of access to the EU market. Yet, some warn that Ghana’s license as the first in Africa and only the second globally after Indonesia may be the last, amid signs of retreat by the EU from longstanding environmental commitments.
The new framework enforces sustainable logging as trees may only be felled in designated areas, with bans on protected zones, high-biodiversity sites, steep slopes and areas near water bodies. Civic Response’s Head of Programs Albert Katako noted the people-centered approach, noting that companies must reinvest in local communities and negotiate social responsibility agreements within 5 kilometres of concessions. Over 100 such agreements are already in place, ensuring tangible benefits for local populations.
The license operates under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), signed in 2009 and is supported by the Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS). The CEO of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Hugh Brown describes TLAS as an “accountability chain from the tree stump in the forest to export,” ensuring traceability of every action. Electronic tracking, audits by inspectors and independent monitors and a publicly accessible portal enhance transparency and governance.
Despite these successes, Ghana’s forests face ongoing threats. Of roughly 8 million hectares of forest, 2.6 million are allocated for timber production and deforestation over the past 25 years has been driven largely by agricultural expansion including cacao cultivation. The EU’s upcoming Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) could address such pressures but repeated delays in its rollout undermine confidence in Europe’s commitment to sustainable sourcing.
Observers praise Ghana’s achievements. Timber Development UK’s CEO, David Hopkins, called the system “robust and sustainable,” and a potential model for other countries. However, recent EU actions including the termination of VPAs with Cameroon and Liberia signal a potential weakening of market incentives for legal logging. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, warned that without such recognition, illegal timber trade risks resurgence.
Ghana’s FLEGT license is a landmark success but its broader impact depends on Europe’s continued commitment. The systems Ghana has pioneered in traceability and community engagement could provide a blueprint not just for timber but for other commodities linked to deforestation including cacao and coffee, may determine the fate of Africa’s remaining forests.
