Ghana and the European Union have signalled a new phase of cooperation in the forest-based sector following Ghana’s landmark achievement of becoming the first African country to issue Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) licences and only the second worldwide to do so.
The discussion took centre stage at the EU-Ghana Timber Trade and Investment Forum, held during the Carrefour International du Bois 2026 in Nantes, Europe’s largest wood trade fair.
The forum brought together policymakers, financiers, forestry experts and private-sector representatives to explore opportunities for trade, investment, digital innovation and sustainable industrial development in the post-FLEGT licensing era.
Opening the event, Kwabena Akyeampong Boakye, Director of the Timber Validation Department of Ghana’s Forestry Commission, highlighted the significance of Ghana’s achievement after 16 years of partnership with the European Union under the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement.
“On 8 October 2025, Ghana became the first country in Africa, and only the second worldwide, to issue FLEGT licences. This is the result of a 16-year partnership with the EU under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement signed in 2009,” Boakye said.
He noted that since the launch of FLEGT licensing, Ghana’s timber trade with the EU has been “seamless and incident-free,” underscoring the confidence that the licensing system has generated among European buyers.
Boakye also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the credibility and transparency of Ghana’s Timber Legality Assurance System (GhLAS), including the continued development of the Timber Validation Committee, extensive capacity building for Forestry Commission staff and industry operators, and ongoing work to assess the alignment of Ghana’s legality assurance system with the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
“Our participation in this programme is simply a FLEGT licence promotion, and it is our expectation that at the end of this programme you will all have the assurance that FLEGT-licensed timber issued by the Ghana Legality Assurance System ensures that all timber products produced and exported to the European Union are in compliance with national laws,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships, Tilia Guerin-Calmettes emphasised that Ghana’s achievement opens the door to broader cooperation.
“This forum comes at a pivotal moment, as Ghana achieved FLEGT licensing last October after 16 years of partnership with the EU. This opens doors to a broader scope of collaboration that links forests, climate action, trade and industrial development,” she said.
She noted that European demand is increasingly shaped by sustainability, legality, deforestation-free supply chains and carbon performance, creating new opportunities for countries that can demonstrate strong governance and responsible forest management.
“Against this backdrop, Ghana’s FLEGT licensing system provides a credible legality assurance framework that strengthens market confidence and supports long-term trade relations with the EU,” Guerin-Calmettes added.
She further highlighted opportunities emerging from the EU’s sustainable construction agenda, bioeconomy strategy and Global Gateway investment programme, which seek to expand the use of sustainably sourced wood products and bio-based materials.
“The EU and Ghana share a common vision: forests that are sustainably managed, climate-smart, transparent and economically productive. The convergence of climate policy, trade regulation, industrial transformation and digital innovation provides a unique opportunity to deepen this partnership,” she said.
A high-level panel discussion explored practical avenues for future collaboration. Representatives of Ghana’s Forestry Commission, led by Dr. Richard Gyimah, Executive Director, Timber Industry Development Division TIDD of Ghana’s Forestry Commission, outlined ambitions to expand plantation development, accelerate forest restoration, modernise timber processing, encourage product innovation and strengthen value addition within the sector.
European experts from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and AFRY Smart Forestry discussed how green finance, digital forestry technologies, remote sensing and data-driven forest management could support Ghana’s sustainable forestry objectives. Discussions also examined investment requirements, financing criteria for forestry projects and the role of digital tools in improving forest planning, productivity and sustainability.
The forum highlighted Ghana’s ongoing implementation of its Forest Plantation Strategy (2016-2040), which promotes large-scale plantation development through partnerships with communities, private investors and development partners. Participants noted that European expertise in plantation management and digital forestry solutions could help accelerate implementation of the strategy while strengthening climate resilience and resource efficiency.
According to organisers, the event aimed to increase the visibility of Ghana’s FLEGT-licensed timber products, promote trade and investment opportunities, and strengthen partnerships between Ghanaian and European forest-based industries.
With support from the European Union, a thirteen-member delegation comprising representatives of Ghana’s Forestry Commission and timber industry participated in the event, using the opportunity to promote Ghana’s FLEGT-licensed timber products and engage directly with European importers, investors, and industry stakeholders.
The Ghana timber trade and industry was represented by the Ghana Timber Millers Organisation (GTMO), Sunstex Timber Company, Logs & Lumber Limited, SUHUMA-JCM, Logs Court, Ayipah Woods, FurnartGhana and Tekura Enterprise Limited.
The forum served as a showcase for Ghana’s commitment to legality, sustainability, and innovation in the forest-based sector.
With the EU remaining Ghana’s largest market for value-added wood products, both sides expressed confidence that the foundations established through the FLEGT partnership can now be expanded to support sustainable forest management, climate action, industrial modernisation and inclusive green growth.
As participants concluded the forum, a common theme emerged: Ghana’s leadership in forest governance reforms, combined with European investment, technology and market opportunities, provides a strong platform for building a competitive, sustainable and climate-smart forest-based industry for the future.
Source: Forestry Commission
