Industry voices highlight Ghana’s responsible forest management systems and the growing case for broader international recognition at Carrefour International du Bois.
During the Carrefour International du Bois conference at the beginning of June, Dr Richard Gyimah, Executive Director of the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) at the Ghana Forestry Commission, and member of the BMRC community sat down alongside Dr Kwame Asamoah Adam, Director General of the Ghana Sawmills Organisation; and Ingrid Hontis, Sustainability Manager at Fedustria [1], to be interviewed by Wood Surfer’s Sarah Laroussi. They discussed Ghana’s role in promoting sustainable and resilient tropical timber.
Ingrid Hontis highlighted the importance of FLEGT licences for companies purchasing timber products, noting that they help simplify procurement processes. She also emphasised the need to improve consumer awareness of FLEGT-licensed timber; consumers are more familiar with FSC and PEFC certification, however, FLEGT licences also maintain strong sustainability assurances.
Dr Richard Gyimah outlined TIDD’s role in ensuring responsible forest management on the ground, supporting market access, and benefiting communities where timber is sourced. He stressed that sustainable forest management must balance social, economic, and environmental objectives, and that when implemented effectively, it delivers benefits across Ghana. He also pointed to the importance of promoting lesser-used species and described ongoing efforts by the Forestry Commission to build capacity among staff and operators.
Dr Kwame Asamoah Adam spoke about the negative impact of perceptions that tropical timber trade drives environmental harm, and how this has affected the sector. He noted that FLEGT licensing has helped to strengthen communication amongst stakeholders to deliver the correct information to consumers. He also highlighted Ghana’s forest management practices, including selective logging, where only species that forests can sustainably support are felled.
Ingrid Hontis reinforced the importance of using tropical forests, stressing that without active, responsible use of timber resources, forests are at risk of being lost.
Overall, the discussion brought together perspectives from government, and private sector stakeholders from Ghana and the EU to recognise Ghana’s progress in achieving FLEGT licensing and promote their sustainable timber products.
Watch the interview with Woodsurfer
[1] the Belgian federation for textile, wood, and furniture industries
