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Ghana : Indicators

2011 > 20 Key Indicators

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Is there a Freedom of Information Act, which has been passed by the government and established in law? Is the Act publically available in full from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Freedom of Information Law

The Right to Information Bill was tabled in Parliament in February 2010 and went through the first reading, but since then there has been no further progress in its passage towards being signed into law. Read more...
Is there an explicit current document described as the national forest policy? Is the policy document available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

National Forest Policy

The policy framework, as contained in the 1994 Forest and Wildlife Policy, is publicly available and recognizes the right of citizens’ participation in forest resources management, but it has not been translated into law. The policy was being reviewed over 2011. Read more...
Is there a codified forest law and lower level norms (regulations, procedures, decrees, technical directives etc) that make the forest laws operative? Are the law and supporting norms available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Codified Forest Laws and Norms

There are the several laws that regulate the protection and management of the forest. Read more...
Has the country signed an international trade agreement that relates to forest products (logging and other products)? Are the agreements, including official discussions on their content, available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Signed International Trade Agreements on Forests

Ghana signed a Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Union in November 2009 and ratified it on 19 March 2010. The final agreement and supporting documents are available to public. Read more...
Are there any forest-specific written laws and regulations that develop the right to access public information on the sector? Are the provisions in laws and regulations available to the public through official websites and other sources?  Read the report...

Provisions for Transparency in Forest Laws

The Forestry Commission (FC) New Service Charter in 2008 provides for customers' right to information, but it is not being adhered to fully. Read more...
Are customary and traditional rights recognised in codified forest law and norms? Are the provisions in the law and norms available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Legal Recognition of Customary and Traditional Rights

Customary law is recognised in the Constitution of Ghana as subordinate to codified laws. Timber resource management regulations require forestry operations to respect traditional rights Read more...
Are there any documented procedures (in the form of regulations, official guidance etc) that lay out the methodology for consultations that should take place regarding new forest-related policies, laws, regulations etc (for example on REDD)? Are the reports from consultation processes available?  Read the report...

Legally Recognised Procedure for Consultation on New Forest-Related Norms

There is no legally enshrined procedure for consultation on new norms Read more...
Is there any law that recognises the right to consent of indigenous peoples and communities on forest uses? Is the law available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Law Recognising Right to Free Prior Informed Consent

The Timber Resource Management Regulations Legislative Instrument 1649 indicates that before an area is given out for timber rights, written consent of the owners is required. Read more...
Is there an explicit current document that sets out the national policy on land tenure, including forest tenure? Is the policy document available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

National Land Tenure Policy

The ownership of forest reserves is clarified in the reservation gazette, but the status is usually not covered with title (and documentation) but under customary and traditional norms. The lack of a clear policy on tenure contributes to land disputes across the country. Read more...
Are there official maps showing current forest ownership by title and/or forest areas where concessions, permits and other authorisations have been granted? Are the maps available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Land Ownership and Forest Use Maps

There are no ownership and forest land use maps but there are maps for most of the reserves and the off-reserves Read more...
Is there a formally regulated system of permits for commercial logging operations? Are the contracts/permits granted under the system publically available from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Regulated Permit System for Commercial Logging Operations

Permits for timber resources and some non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are clearly indicated but for other NTFPs and environmental services, there is no clarity on the permit regime Read more...
Is there a requirement in the forest law and norms for stakeholder consultation prior to the allocation of commercial logging permits? Are the reports from consultation processes available?  Read the report...

Legal Requirement for Stakeholder Consultation before Allocation of Commercial Logging Permits

There are consultation processes prior to permit allocation, which are set out in the regulations Read more...
Prior to the allocation of permits for logging or other extractive use (e.g. mining) of forest land, is there a formal process in the regulations for independent “due diligence” checks to verify the eligibility, suitability and capability (technical and financial) of applicants? Are the findings and conclusions of the verification process made available to the public?  Read the report...

Verification Process (Due Diligence) of the Eligibility of Permit Applicants

The Timber Rights Evaluation Committee validates the bids for permits and the companies involved, but only partial information is provided since only documents on the winner of the bid are publicly available. Read more...
Once a permit or concession has been issued, is there a formal requirement for the completion of forest management plans on the operations? Are the forest management plans available to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Forest Management Plans

The district officials are not obliged to publish logging plans, and there are no forest management plans for other forest products, eco-tourism or environmental services. Read more...
Is there a formally agreed system for the regulation of environmental services, such as water, carbon and biodiversity, as it affects forests? Are the regulations for the system available to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Regulation of Environmental Services

The Environmental Protection Agency is working on plans for regulating environmental services, but no formal system has been proposed yet. Read more...
Is there a formal strategic process set out in policy to determine the priorities for land use between forests, mining, large-scale agriculture, infrastructure development and other demands? Is the policy available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Strategic Environmental Assessment of Development Priorities

There is no Strategic Environmental Assessment to assess priorities between development options that apply to the forestry sector. Read more...
Is there an independent monitor, auditor, ombudsman or any other body with an officially recognised role to scrutinise forest governance and operations? Are reports by the independent body available to the public?  Read the report...

Independent Monitoring of Forest Governance and Operations

There is currently no independent Forest Monitor, but there are plans to establish such a role as part of the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Union. Read more...
Is there a regulated fiscal system to collect taxes and redistribute royalties from forest operations, or provide subsidies and funding to support forest operations? Are figures on the amounts collected and distributed available to the public from official sources?  Read the report...

Forestry Tax Collection and Funding Systems

The collection and distribution of royalties and land revenue including forestry is defined in law, and information on it is published. Read more...
Is the Forest Authority obliged under the norms to collect information on any infractors of the forest law? Are lists of infractors available to the public from official sources?  Read the report...

Forest Infractions

There is no official publication of forest offenders apart from those that are arrested and/or prosecuted which appear in the newspapers. Read more...
Is there a requirement set out in the norms for the Forest Authority to produce an annual summary of its activities? Is the report available in full to the public from official sources (websites and/or offices)?  Read the report...

Annual Forest Authority Report

The Forestry Commission is required in the Forest Charter to publish an annual report and present it to parliament through the Minister. The last annual report was produced in 2006, but more recent reports from sub-divisions have been published Read more...
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