Ghana Wins ‘Gold Standard’ EU Timber Access, But Is It the Last?

Ghana has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first African nation to secure fast-track access to European Union timber markets through a prestigious “gold standard” certification. After 16 years of negotiations, the West African country earned a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license, which certifies that all Ghanaian timber is harvested legally and with proper consent from local forest communities.

This groundbreaking achievement means Ghanaian timber can now enter EU markets without additional legality checks, providing a significant competitive advantage. The certification ensures that forest communities receive fair compensation for logging activities and that all timber operations meet strict environmental and legal standards. Industry leaders are celebrating the milestone, with Richard Nsenkyire of major timber exporter Samartex calling it “the beginning of a new era in compliant international trade.”

However, the celebration comes with a sobering reality check. Ghana’s FLEGT license is only the second ever issued globally—after Indonesia—and experts worry it may also be the last. The EU’s FLEGT program was launched over 20 years ago to combat illegal logging at its source, but political shifts suggest the EU may be retreating from such ambitious environmental initiatives.

This creates uncertainty about the future of sustainable timber trade certification programs just as their importance grows. Ghana’s success demonstrates that rigorous environmental standards can be achieved while supporting local economies, but whether other nations will have the same opportunity remains an open question as global environmental policies face increasing political headwinds.