Ghana has issued its first timber legality licences, making it the first country in Africa and only the second in the world after Indonesia cleared to export timber to the European Union, reports Daily Graphic.

The export is being done under the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regime.

The Forestry Commission on Tuesday (August 19) presented six certificates to five Ghanaian companies - Samartex Timber and Plywood, Logs and Lumber, JCM Company, Mere Plantations and West Coast Wooden Products - paving the way for shipments of timber and timber products to Italy, Germany and Estonia.

“This milestone has been achieved through collaborative efforts of both state and non-state institutions, including civil society organisations, who have been following keenly and putting pressure on duty bearers, and we can all be happy now for how far we have come,” Energy and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah is quoted as saying in a speech read on his behalf.

The move follows Parliament’s June ratification of 131 Timber Utilisation Contracts, which enabled Ghana to roll out the FLEGT licensing regime after signing a voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) with the EU in 2009.

FLEGT licences certify that timber shipments comply with the producer country’s laws and are sustainably sourced. The EU accepts such licences as proof of legality, offering partner countries access to its timber market.

“The entire FLEGT licence process, which spanned many political regimes, meant that through collaboration, the country could achieve greatness,” Buah said, calling the licence an opportunity to expand market access and ensure responsible forest management.

But he warned illegal loggers and miners to leave forest reserves. “These people should know that we are coming for them. We will come hard at them; the field day is over, and there is no hideout for them,” he stressed.

Jonas Claes, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Accra, hailed the move as a turning point for trade and sustainability.

“Today is a big day for EU-Ghana relations and sustainability, as we go live on the FLEGT licences, which marks a significant step in Ghana’s commitment to trade in legal timber and wood products, combating illegal logging and promoting good forest governance,” he said, as quoted by Daily Graphic.

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and ultimately, we must focus on increasing trade in legal timber products while tackling deforestation and biodiversity loss.”

Acting Forestry Commission chief Hugh Brown urged companies to “get their act together and operate within the legal framework”, warning offenders in the sector to desist from illegal practices.

The launch of the licensing regime, attended by government officials, traditional leaders and diplomats in Accra, also positions Ghana as a “low-risk” country under the EU’s new Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Daily Graphic notes.

Ghana had initially planned to begin FLEGT-certified exports from June, but parliamentary delays pushed back the timeline. With the first licences now issued, the country is on track to meet the EU’s October 2025 deadline for compliance under the VPA.