Ghana has officially announced that its Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) licensed timber will enter the European market on October 8, 2025.
This historic milestone marks the culmination of a 16-year journey to strengthen forest governance, ensure timber legality, and promote sustainable trade.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, during the 13th Session of the Joint Monitoring and Review Mechanism between the Government of Ghana and the European Union (EU) on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
Ghana is now the first African country and the second globally, after Indonesia, to implement this internationally recognized licensing scheme.
Minister Armah-Kofi Buah highlighted Ghana’s extensive efforts, including revising forestry laws, investing in advanced wood-tracking systems, training industry stakeholders, and engaging local communities to ensure that all timber exported from Ghana meets the highest standards of legality and traceability.
He expressed profound gratitude to the joint technical teams, civil society organizations, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for their support, and offered special recognition to the EU Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Irchad Razaaly, for his pivotal leadership.
Looking ahead, the Minister challenged the Forestry Commission to intensify reforestation efforts, specifically citing President John Mahama’s “Tree for Life” Reforestation Initiative, which aims to restore degraded lands and expand commercial tree plantations to reduce pressure on natural forests.
In his remarks, EU Ambassador Razaaly commended Ghana’s determination, noting that the October launch is the result of “a long chain of commitment, responsibility, and political support” from both Ghana and the EU. He added that the move opens significant economic opportunities, guaranteeing Ghanaian timber access to the EU market of 450 million people.
The Ambassador also praised the inclusiveness of the process, recognizing the critical roles of civil society, local communities, and Ghana’s Parliament in the final ratification and conversion of timber leases.
With this landmark achievement, Ghana solidifies its global reputation as a pioneer in sustainable forest management, unlocking new opportunities for trade, job creation, and environmental conservation.
Source: Lands Ministry
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