1. The VPA – Ghana’s Process Chatham House Illegal Logging Update and Stakeholder Consultation, January, 2007 By Alhassan Attah & Chris Beeko

2. The VPA, Ghana’s Process 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

3. The VPA, Ghana’s Process 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

4. The VPA, Ghana’s Process 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

5. The VPA, Ghana’s Process The Road Map Step 1 Formalisation Of Negotiations Dec. 2006 Step 3 Legality Defined April, 2007 Step 4 Verification System Designed May. 2007 Step 5 Impact Studies Conducted June 2007 Step 6 Negotiations Concluded Dec. 2007 Step 2 1 st Preparatory Meeting on N. E. Feb. 2007

6. The On-going Process - Ghana

7. The VPA, Ghana’s Process An Overview Legal Standard VerificationSystemImpactManagement Domestic Market Study Outputs, Process Reviews National Stakeholder Consultations/Consensus Building EU/Ghana Negotiation EU/GHANA VP Agreement

8. The VPA, Ghana’s Process The Internal Consultative Process – Verification System FC internal Industry Chainsaw Ops/ ‘Informal’ Loggers Civil Society NGOs Policy Forum SteeringCommittee MinisterialClearance

9. The VPA, Ghana’s Process 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

10. FLEGT, Some Reflections

11. The VPA, Ghana’s Process 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

12. The VPA, Ghana’s Process 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?

13. The VPA, Ghana’s Process Ghana is still committed to the process

14. Ghana & the VPA Thank You attah@ghanatimber.co.uk cabeeko@yahoo.com