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Forests & trade | 12 March 2019

The laws that govern forest conversion in Ghana
Forests & trade
Forests

The laws that govern forest conversion in Ghana

ClientEarth has produced a law database of the central policies, laws and regulations that govern forest conversion in Ghana.

Forest conversion is the removal of natural forests (deforestation) to change the purpose of the land. It may be wanted for agricultural use (such as growing crops or providing pasture for cattle), or for mining or urban expansion.

Not all policies, laws and regulations are easily available in Ghana, particularly online. With this law database, NGOs, communities and researchers can explore the laws that regulate Ghanaian forests. As a result, a broader range of perspectives can be voiced during national debates on forest management and protection.

Forest conversion is challenging to regulate, as it involves multiple sectors like forests, mining, agriculture, land and investment, and requires efficient coordination between different groups including communities, private investors and government ministries.

As a result, the legal framework governing forest conversion in Ghana is complex, inconsistent and not entirely complete. In partnership with our in-country associates from TaylorCrabbe Initiative, we have created a database that draws together relevant legal texts from many sectors. These laws and policies identify the current requirements for converting forest land to another use. However, legal reform is needed to develop a comprehensive legal framework.

The documents listed below have been gathered from different public sources and are not the property of ClientEarth. Where available we have included official texts, but not all are the official publications and therefore may contain mistakes.

The database will be updated as laws evolve.

ClientEarth also has a Ghana law database on legal texts related to forest and natural resource governance, as well as a law database on forest conversion in Liberia.

Forest conversion laws: Ghana

Forests and land policy

Mining and agriculture policy

Legal Framework of the Forest and Land Sector

Legal Framework of Environmental Assessment

Legal Framework of the investment sector

Legal Framework of the Mining sector