Lands Minister Inaugurates Timber Validation Committee to enhance forest governance
Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated the Timber Validation Committee, a crucial step towards enhancing governance and sustainability in the forestry sector. The committee’s primary objective is to ensure that all timber products exported from Ghana originate from legal sources and meet the highest standards of verification.
The 11-member committee, chaired by Hon. Fiifi Buckman, a legal practitioner, comprises representatives from various stakeholders, including the Forestry Commission, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Timber Trade and Industry Association, and civil society organizations. The committee’s key tasks include verifying the legality of timber products, promoting transparency and accountability, and supporting sustainable development in the timber industry.
Committee’s Mandate and Government Support
The committee has been mandated to oversee the processing of applications for licensing timber products for both domestic and international markets, ensure compliance with relevant legal frameworks, and make recommendations on the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensing system. The government has pledged to provide necessary support and resources to enable the committee to carry out its work efficiently and effectively.
Protecting Ghana’s Forest Heritage
Minister Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized the significance of Ghana’s forests as a national heritage, providing livelihoods, foreign exchange, and industrial raw materials. He stressed the need to protect the forests while promoting a vibrant timber industry, ensuring sustainable forest management practices that balance economic development with environmental protection. The Minister also highlighted Ghana’s recent milestone of issuing its first FLEGT license for timber exports to the European Union, making the country the first in Africa and only the second globally, after Indonesia, to achieve this feat .
Committee’s Pledge
Chairman Hon. Fiifi Buckman pledged that the committee would execute its mandate with professionalism, impartiality, and full commitment. He emphasized the importance of protecting Ghana’s forest heritage while promoting sustainable forest management practices. The committee members have taken an oath to uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability in the forestry sector ¹.
The inauguration of the Timber Validation Committee marks a significant step towards strengthening forest governance and trade integrity in Ghana. With the committee’s work, the country aims to ensure that its timber industry operates sustainably, responsibly, and in compliance with international standards.
