Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, has disclosed that the country is ready to sign on to the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Action plan (FLEGT).

According to him, the plan will help in proper structuring of the timber industry.

Addressing the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Irchad Razaaly, and his delegation, Mr Jinapor assured that his Ministry is in the final stages of implementing the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Action plan (FLEGT) to ensure that legal timber on the domestic markets is sourced, processed and marketed to the EU.

Mr Jinapor commended the European Union for the extraordinary work and their involvement in the voluntary partnership with Ghana as it is aimed at preserving the ecosystem and environment of tropical forests estates.

Furthermore, the lands minister assured the delegation that he will fully participate in ensuring that the licenses are signed.

As part of efforts to further deepen discussions on Ghana’s current stage of licensing timber for the export in European markets, H.E Ichard Razaaly, on his part, stated that European Union has pledged its support to countries that adopt sustainable methods in exporting their timber resources legally.

He commended government’s flagship programme, Green Ghana Project, under which over 10 million tree seedlings were planted this year.

Moreover, he explained that, he led his team to plant 500 tree seedlings at Apapam Community in the Atewa Forest enclave of the Eastern Region, as part of their commitment to help restore Ghana’s vegetative cover.

Implementation of plans to protect forests

Meanwhile, Mr Jinapor, has emphasized government’s efforts to implement measures to protect and conserve the country’s existing forests while restoring the degraded ones.

He revealed that the government, through the ministry, intensified law enforcement and deployed Rapid Response Teams of the Forestry Commission, supported by the Ghana Armed Forces, to clamp down on illegal activities in Forest Reserves and Wildlife Protected areas across the country.

“Reconnaissance, prospecting and exploration activities in Forest Reserves remain suspended, while there continues to be a ban on the harvesting, trading, export or import of Rosewood.”
Samuel Jinapor

Mr Jinapor explained that the ministry was implementing the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan to ensure that timber on the domestic markets was sourced, processed and marketed.

On the legislation on Wildlife Resource laid before the House, he pleaded with his colleague MPs to expedite action on the Bill to strengthen the enforcement measures.

“… While taking these measures to protect the existing forests, we continue to pursue our aggressive afforestation and reforestation agenda to restore our degraded forests and increase the country’s forest estate. Under the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy, for example, over 690,000 hectares of forest have been cultivated between 2017 and 2022, far in excess of the forest cultivated in 53 years between 1963 and 2016.”
Samuel Jinapor

Furthermore, Mr Jinapor stated that the Strategy was being implemented, in addition to several others such as the Green Ghana Project, under which over 40 million trees had been planted in the three years of implementation.

He expressed appreciation to the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and members of the House, and the entire nation for the support the ministry continued to receive on each Green Ghana Day.

Following this, the lands minister urged Ghanaians to continue to nurture the trees and ensure they reach maturity.

FLEGT licences are documents issued by timber-producing countries that have ratified a Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the EU. The licences confirm that timber or timber products comply fully with the relevant laws of the country of export.