Some civil society organisations (CSOs) have appealed to authorities in Ghana to ensure that the country completes the process of issuing a Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license before December 2020 deadline.

It is understood that the licence would make timber trade with the European Union (Eu) easier and mutually beneficial.

Managing Campaigner of EcoCare Ghana, Obed Owusu- Addai, said at a press conference that failure to finish the process started since 2009 would result in everything going down the drain and Ghana losing its credibility on the international timber market.

‘Parliament is expected to convert timber extant leases into Timber Utilisation Contracts (TUCs) to complete the process before the December 2020 deadline set by Ghana itself as completion date’, he said.

Owusu-Addai said that the over 100 contract documents had been prepared and forwarded to the lands and natural resources ministry for signature and onward submission to parliament for ratification.

It is believed that the FLEGT license will greatly remedy the ailing timber industry and assist in redirecting much-needed funds into supporting the welfare of their workers.

But the CSOs fear that Ghana risks missing out on this unique opportunity into which resources and efforts have been invested by various stakeholders.

It was gathered that in 2007, Ghana began negotiations with the EU on steps to ensure only legal timber is exported to the latter’s member countries, leading to the signing of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA).

Ghana’s credibility on the international timber market and in the eyes of the EU, in particular, is at stake as its seriousness towards forest conservation would be measured by the commitment shown by the forestry commission, lands and natural resources ministry, and the parliament of Ghana.

Source: Modern Ghana

Photo source: Ben Salter