The Ghana Forestry Commission Ghana has advanced with preparations to implement a wood tracking system that will ensure only legally acquired timber is exported. The system, when fully functioning, will enable Ghana issue the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licenses under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement reached with the European Union. Speaking at a recent workshop, Mr Chris Beeko, Director for the Timber Validation Department of the Forestry Commission, said a test run was carried out on the system involving key government agencies and selected companies.The next stage would be to operate all the modules of the system, close the gaps identified by external auditors in the legality assurance system and go to full implementation.
With the tracking system it is easy to collect data on trees that have been felled and those entering the mills via the electronic devices said Beeko. Currently most of the control processes are paper based making it extremely tough to ensure accuracy.