Ghana Historically Begins Issuing Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Licence

Ghana has made history, becoming the first African country to issue a Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licence and second globally.

The launch of the licence will take place on August 18, 2025.

In a statement, the Forestry Commission said this historic milestone solidifies Ghana’s leadership in sustainable forest governance and legal timber trade.

The launch follows the successful go-live of Ghana’s FLEGT license system on Friday, August 15 2025, marking the beginning of verified, legal timber exports and marks the culmination of about 16 years of reform, collaboration and investment across Ghana’s forest sector, including the ratification of 131 Timber Utilisation Contracts (TUCs) by Parliament last month, the final regulatory hurdle that cleared the way for implementation.

A FLEGT licence certifies that timber and timber-related products exported to the European Union (EU) are legally harvested and processed in accordance with Ghanaian laws.

Products covered by a valid licence automatically comply with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), ensuring seamless access to the EU market while eliminating the risk of illegal timber trade.

“More than 350 industry operators have been trained in the licensing process, ensuring smooth transactions for international buyers.

“This major rollout also positions Ghana to meet broader international obligations, including compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation and commitments under global climate change frameworks.”

Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/