Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah inaugurating the Timber Validation Committee inside the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry’s conference room in Accra on Friday, September 12, 2025
Source: Africa Publicity
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated Ghana’s Timber Validation Committee.
In his speech at the inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Accra on Friday, September 12, 2025, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah charged members of the Committee to discharge their “duties with excellence and leave behind a legacy that generations to come will be proud of.”
According to him, the 10-member Committee is a body that will play a central role in ensuring the credibility, transparency, and integrity of our timber industry.
The Hon. Minister says the forestry sector is one of the pillars of Ghana’s national economy, adding that it provides jobs, supports livelihoods, generates foreign exchange, and sustains the environment that we all depend on.
However, he bemoaned that over the years, unsustainable practices have threatened not only the reputation of Ghana’s timber exports but also the very foundation of the country’s forest resources.
In response, he said the Government, with the support of relevant stakeholders, has made important reforms aimed at improving governance, legality assurance, and sustainability in the sector, saying “One of the most significant steps was the signing of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union in 2009, under the EU-FLEGT initiative. This agreement commits us to ensuring that all timber and timber products exported from Ghana come from legal sources and meet the highest standards of verification.”
He recalled that just a few weeks ago, Ghana issued its first Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license on some wood products destined for the European Union market, adding this is indeed a historic milestone, as Ghana becomes the first country in Africa, and the second in the world after Indonesia, to achieve this remarkable feat.
Subsequently, according to him, on 8th October 2025, the European Union is expected to receive all wood consignments from Ghana accompanied by the FLEGT license. “This achievement is not just about compliance but a bold statement that Ghana is committed to legality, transparency, and sustainability in the global timber trade,” he said.
“The establishment of the Timber Validation Committee is therefore not only timely but absolutely critical. This Committee is mandated to among other things; oversee the processing of applications for the licensing of timber products for both domestic and international markets; ensure compliance with the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks regarding timber trade; make recommendations regarding the implementation of the FLEGT license which is expected to accompany all wood exports to the European Union,” the Minister said.
He noted that the credibility of the Committee is crucial to the integrity of Ghana’s entire timber legality assurance system, saying “our international markets will rely on your work; our local industry will depend on your fairness and efficiency; and future generations will judge us by how well we protect and sustain our forest resources today.”
National Heritage
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Fiifi Buckman, expressing gratitude to the Minister on behalf of the Committee, stated that forests constitute not only a source of livelihood, foreign exchange, and industrial raw materials but also a cherished national heritage.
He assured government, stakeholders in the timber industry, civil society, and development partners of discharging their mandate with the highest levels of professionalism, impartiality, and unwavering commitment.