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In a landmark development, Ghana and the European Union formalized an agreement in Accra on November 6, 2024, allowing Ghana to issue Africa’s first timber legality licenses. 



This makes Ghana the first African nation and the second globally to obtain EU-approved export licenses that verify the legality of its timber products.



The agreement follows a meeting in Brussels of the Ghana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT). 



This partnership brings together Ghanaian forest authorities, the private sector, civil society, and the European Commission in a collective effort to combat illegal timber trade through sustainable practices.



Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, highlighted the importance of this partnership one of the crucial agreements which will allow Ghana to trade licensed timber products with EU. 



“The EU is one of the most crucial, if not the leading, destination markets for timber and related products. Achieving this milestone means Ghana can now trade FLEGT-licensed timber products with Europe. It ensures that every piece of timber reaching the European market from Ghana is legally sourced,” he stated.



Jinapor emphasized that the initiative will play a vital role in Ghana&#8217;s efforts to combat deforestation and promote environmental sustainability.







 “We have full traceability—we know the exact source of the timber, its legality, and that it has been harvested sustainably. This will greatly support our mission to halt deforestation across the country,” he noted.



EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Ramiandrasoa Razaaly, also addressed the media, describing the initiative as essential for sustainable forest management. 



“This initiative is rooted in traceability, which guarantees that timber exported to Europe is harvested, processed, and sold through lawful channels,” he explained.



Ambassador Razaaly further underscored the transformative potential of the FLEGT agreement, stating, “It establishes an environment ripe for genuine, long-term investments that not only boost Ghana’s economy but also create enduring job opportunities.”

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Ghana and EU Sign Agreement for Timber Legality Licenses

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AUTHOR: Perpetual Tweneboah Koduah

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