06.09.2025
On August 15, 2025, Ghana marked a historic milestone by becoming the first African country—and the second in the world after Indonesia—to issue a FLEGT license for its timber exports to the European Union.
The result of 16 years of reforms, collaboration, and investment, this success crowns a long process of establishing a system for verifying the legality of timber. The official launch on August 18 in Accra follows the recent adoption by the Ghanaian Parliament of 131 timber utilization contracts, the final regulatory step enabling the system to come into force.
The FLEGT license certifies that exported timber has been harvested and processed legally in accordance with national laws. For European buyers, these products automatically comply with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), facilitating market access, enhancing legal certainty in transactions, and eliminating the risk associated with illegal trade.
More than 350 operators in Ghana's timber sector have already been trained in the licensing process, ensuring smooth and reliable transactions. This progress also positions the country as a key player in meeting new international requirements, including the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and global climate commitments.
With this first license, Ghana confirms its role as an African pioneer in sustainable forest governance and paves the way for other countries on the continent committed to implementing FLEGT-VPA agreements.
