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The VPA – Ghana’s Process. Chatham House Illegal Logging Update and Stakeholder Consultation, January, 2007. By Alhassan Attah & Chris Beeko. Structure of Presentation. VPA – The Vision of Ghana Issues for negotiation The Road Map Ghana’s On-going Process
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The VPA – Ghana’s Process Chatham House Illegal Logging Update and Stakeholder Consultation, January, 2007 By Alhassan Attah & Chris Beeko
Structure of Presentation • VPA – The Vision of Ghana • Issues for negotiation • The Road Map • Ghana’s On-going Process • The Global Fit of FLEGT and Resultant Issues – Ghana’s Perspective
The VPA Vision of Ghana • To create an environment that promotes sustainable forest management, improves rural livelihoods and equity as well as enabling industrial efficiency in a good governance environment SFM, Poverty Reduction, Value Addition & a Sustainable Industry, Good Governance
Ghana - Issues for Negotiation • A Legal Standard • System of verification and reporting of compliance • Minimising/containing impacts of initiative on country • Establishing a holistic legality regime which will include the domestic market
The Road Map Step 6 Negotiations Concluded Dec. 2007 Step 5 Impact Studies Conducted June 2007 Step 4 Verification System Designed May. 2007 Step 3 Legality Defined April, 2007 Step 1 Formalisation Of Negotiations Dec. 2006 Step 2 1st Preparatory Meeting on N. E. Feb. 2007
An Overview EU/GHANA VP Agreement EU/Ghana Negotiation Legal Standard Verification System Impact Management Domestic Market National Stakeholder Consultations/Consensus Building Study Outputs, ProcessReviews
The Internal Consultative Process – Verification System Ministerial Clearance Steering Committee Policy Forum Civil Society NGOs Chainsaw Ops/ ‘Informal’ Loggers Industry FC internal
The On-going Internal Consultative Process Since Last Chatham House Reporting … • Relevant external input being sought to inform debate and choices • Policy Forum on Ghana Forest Verification System • Verifor Project (ODI) has participated in internal policy discussion on verification system • Forum with regulatory agency professionals to conclude business process review discussion • Forum with Industry to consolidate consensus on issues • Multi-Sectoral approach enhanced – Finance Minister at OECD Illegal Logging Round Table
The Global Fit/Relevance of FLEGT • Current Global Timber Trade Flows • China, Japan, USA are significant players • They however, sit outside FLEGT • FLEGT Product focus (round wood, sawn wood, plywood, veneer) adds to limitation • Efficacy of FLEGT will be proportional to volume of global illegal trade it captures • Issue of circumvention still real
The Global Fit – Issues & Conclusions • Expand the FLEGT product cover to further processed wood • Shift to a more multi-lateral approach to ensure ‘global coverage’ • Review the “Voluntary” element of initiative • Will reciprocity in provision of legal assurances from EU member States be tenable?
Thank You attah@ghanatimber.co.uk cabeeko@yahoo.com