Nov 06-2025
A historic milestone was attained last month when Ghana exported Africa’s first Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license timber to the European market. In commemoration of this milestone, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Forestry Commission, thé Embassy of Ghana in Brussels and the European Timber Federation convened a series of celebratory events on Tuesday, 4th November, 2025 in Brussels.
The day began with a conference at The Hotel Brussels, where various stakeholders took turns to underscore the importance of the FLEGT license and the 16 years of resilience, determination and commitment that made the issuance of the new timber license possible. Regulators, CSOs, importers and exporters of timber made presentations on their role in driving the whole process from 2009 to date and the potential of Ghana’s timber market in a new licensing regime.
A symbolic exchange of the FLEGT licenses between representatives of Ghanaian exporters and European Importers of Timber was the main highlight of the conference.
The conference created a platform for Ghanaian timber products to be exhibited.
As part of the celebratory events, the Ambassador of Ghana in Brussels and officials of the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Lands held a high-level roundtable political discussion and working lunch with Members of the European Parliament.
The event was climaxed with a cocktail reception in the evening hosted by the Ghana Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Mission to the European Union.
His Excellency Mr. Henry Tachie-Menson Ghana ‘s Ambassador to the European Union used the occasion to reiterate the importance of showcasing the legality of Ghana’s timber and made a clarion call for companies in the timber industry to prioritise corporate social responsibility in forest communities, which is a central requirement of the FLEGT license.
The new timber license is another example of Ghana’s resolve to pursue its sustainable development agenda with excellence, commitment and dedication. And celebrating the feat serves the dual purpose of inspiring others to remain committed to the preservation of our forests and environments as well as marketing Ghana’s timber to the rest of the world.