By Raymond Rex Awiagah
The Story
Ghana is set to become the first African country to issue a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license by June 30, 2025.
This historic environmental milestone makes Ghana the second globally.
Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah in a recent meeting with the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, in Accra made the announcement.
This puts Ghana in a leap for Africa’s role in global forest governance. It comes at a time when the world is determined to implement innovative initiatives in order to meet climate change targets under the Paris Agreement as well as United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What is a FLEGT License and Why Does It Matter at this Time?
The FLEGT license is an EU initiative to ensure that only legally harvested timber enters the European market. It is a direct output of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), which Ghana signed with the EU in 2009. The license assures that timber products from Ghana are legally and sustainably sourced in line with international best practices.
This would mean that, timber from Ghana can be directly exported to the EU markets without scrutiny.
A Model for Climate Action and Responsible Trade
Deforestation and forest degradation are among the largest contributors to global carbon emissions—responsible for nearly 11% of emissions worldwide. Illegal logging alone costs developing countries over $10 billion annually and severely undermines environmental stability and local livelihoods.
Hence by issuing the FLEGT license, Ghana would be addressing multiple global concerns such as curbing illegal logging, promoting biodiversity conservation, and reducing carbon emissions. This aligns directly with several UN SDGs, particularly:
• Goal 13: Climate Action
• Goal 15: Life on Land
• Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Why International Cooperation is necessary
The EU’s support for Ghana through the VPA highlights the crucial importance of global partnerships in achieving environmental goals. The collaboration between Ghana and the EU is a clear example of how North-South cooperation can lead to sustainable development outcomes that benefit both economies and ecosystems.
During the meeting, Minister Buah called on the EU to support Ghana in key areas, such as developing timber-tracking technology, investing in commercial tree plantations, and improving efforts to fight illegal mining and restore damaged lands and water bodies- often a result of illegal mining, another pressing issue in Ghana.
Mr. Buah thanked the EU for its continued support and expressed hope for more cooperation in protecting Ghana’s natural resources and fighting climate change.
One Step Away for Issuing FLEGT License
The final hurdle before Ghana can issue the FLEGT license is the Parliamentary approval of a second batch of Timber Utilization Contracts (TUCs). This is expected after the Easter break. Once this is cleared, Ghana will enter a new era of forest trade where legality, transparency, and sustainability guide the timber industry.
This new move also reflects Ghana’s broader national agenda to fulfill commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Conclusion
With Ghana now leading the space, other forest-rich countries in Africa and beyond can also learning from this initiative. As the world navigates the complexities of climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development, Ghana’s impending FLEGT license issuance Is a step in the right direction in ensuring responsible environmental stewardship.