The move is a significant step in the country's commitment to trade in legal timber and wood products to combat illegal logging and promote good forest governance.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, announced this in Accra on Wednesday during the signing of FLEGT Aide Memoir between the Ghana government and European Union (EU).

The deal was unveiled at the 12th Session of the Ghana-EU Joint Monitoring Review Mechanism of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) in Accra, marking a significant milestone in the sustainable management of Ghana's timber resources.

The signing of the FLEGT agreement signified the conclusion of years of exhaustive and comprehensive stakeholder engagements.

The Agreement confirms Ghana's readiness to trade and promote legal timber products and affirms her as a model for other countries that want to pursue the path towards issuing FLEGT licensing.

The Lands Minister commended all individuals and organizations whose commitment and dedication culminated in the confirmation of Ghana as the first country in Africa to issue the FLEGT licenses.

Mr Jinapor described the development as the outcome of productive discussions and deliberations geared towards the transparent, accountable, and sustainable management of the country's forest resources.

Highlighting key aspects of the Aide Memoir, the Minister stated that the document provided an effective roadmap and guidelines for the management of the country's forest reserves.

It also provided the foundation for the growth of Ghana's economy through the trade of legal timber products, noting that the document provided a detailed plan for tackling illegalities in the industry.

"We came together not only to review our progress but also to reaffirm our shared goals and aspirations for the future. The Aide Memoire we are signing today encapsulates the key outcomes of our discussions and serves as a roadmap for future actions. It underscores our commitment to enhancing transparency, accountability, and the sustainable management of our forest resources," Mr Jinapor explained.

The Minister said Ghana was optimistic in her belief that good governance was essential not only for environmental protection but also for the well-being of the people and the resilience of her economy.

"We can celebrate this milestone because, as outlined in the agreement, the established systems have undergone a thorough assessment by external auditors, and all identified corrective actions have been duly resolved," he stated.

The resolution, he said, encompassed both the technical foundations of the system and the more complex policy measures that engage the highest levels of the country's governing structures.

At this significant milestone, it is important to recognize the support and efforts of everyone who has worked tirelessly and with a visionary purpose to bring this initiative to life. The signing of this Aide Memoire is a testament to our collaborative efforts, reflecting the dedication and hard work of all parties involved in this important initiative.

Permit me to also acknowledge the United Kingdom, which was the member state partnering with Ghana prior to Brexit. Through development cooperation with the UK, Ghana received grant funding to develop its technical systems, establish multi-stakeholder deliberative platforms, train forest auditors, and implement the independent auditing requirements under the agreement. The significance of this contribution cannot be overstated.

Let me extend my heartfelt gratitude to our partners in the European Union for their unwavering support and collaboration throughout this journey. Your expertise and resources have been invaluable in helping us navigate the complexities of this process," he said.

Mr Irchad Razaaly, the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, on his part, said the process of making Ghana a FLEGT issuance country started some 15 years ago and was delighted that Ghana had concluded all the steps necessary for attaining the status.

He stated that the Agreement placed Ghana among countries viewed by the world as having developed the system to provide licensing for the exportation of timber products.
In his view, the credibility would enhance Ghana's status in the international market and help the country's economy tremendously.

Ambassador Irchad Razaaly noted that the effective regulation of Ghana's timber resources would serve as a major pull factor for investors, with confident that Ghana's timber products had undergone rigorous and robust governance and monitoring regimes.