Ghana Starts Issuing FLEGT Licences for Timber Export

Ghana will now be issuing Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Licences for the export of timber and timber products to the European Market drawing the curtain on the era of issuing timber rights under the Timber Utilisation Contracts (TUCS).

This new policy comes into play as part of Parliament’s ratification of eleven 11 TUCs granted for the exploitation of timber resources, in accordance with article 268(1) of the Constitution, and section 9 of the Timber Resources Management Act, 1997 (Act 547).

A statement released by the Ministry of Lands and Natural on July 18, 224, said the eleven (11) TUCs form part of the first batch of nineteen (19) TUCs submitted to Parliament for ratification.

This ratification provides for a competitive system of allocating timber resources and enables Ghana to issue the FLEGT Licences for the export of timber and timber products to the European Market, the Ministry explained.

“This will make Ghana the first country in Africa, and the second in the world, after Indonesia, to issue FLEGT License for timber and timber products.”

It continued, “Prior to this Act, timber rights were granted in the nature of timber concessions, leases and permits under the Concessions Act, 1962 (Act 124)… Under Section 19 of Act 547, all existing timber rights prior to Act 547 were to be valid for only six (6) months, and holders of those timber rights were to apply for TUCs within six (6) months of the coming into force of the Act. However, for almost twenty-five (25) years after the coming into force of the Act, these concessions and leases had not been converted into TUCs.”

Essence
According to the Ministry, the ratification of these TUCs puts Ghana on track to discharge her obligations under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU on the issuance of FLEGT Licenses.

It will also support the fight against deforestation and forest degradation while enhancing environmental and natural resources governance to contribute to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it highlighted.

Remaining TUCs
The Ministry used the occasion to express gratitude to the Parliament of Ghana and stakeholders for the ratification and entreated the House to fast-track work on the remaining TUCs.

“We are confident that Parliament will expedite action on the processes for the ratification of the other TUCs before it. The Ministry is, also, grateful to all partners who facilitated the process for the ratification of these TUCs.”

Sustainable Resource Management
It further assured of its commitment to efficiently and sustainably managing and utilizing the country’s natural resources.

This he said would be done with a high level of transparency, candour, integrity and utmost good faith, for the benefit of Ghanaians.