Working Group On Forest Certification Ghana

1. The Working Group on Forest Certification, Ghana, originally established as the National Working Group under clause 3.2, of the Constitution for the National Governing Council for Forest Certification in Ghana, is registered under the Companies Code 1963 (Act 179) as a Company limited by guarantee. It is a Non-Governmental Organization whose general business is to promote quality forest management in Ghana.

Functions
2. The overall function of the Working Group on Forest Certification, Ghana, hereinafter referred to as the Working Group, abbreviated WG, is, on behalf of forest stakeholders and the National Governing Council for Forest Certification in Ghana, to provide technical services to facilitate the development of sound forest management standards and the operation of a credible system of forest and chain of custody certification in Ghana.

3. Within the generality of section 2 above, WG shall

a) Draft and regularly review the national standards for forest certification and sustainable forest management.

b) Promote consultations among, and the participation of, key stakeholders in the processes relating to the development and testing of national forest stewardship standards.

c) Work towards achieving endorsement for the Ghana Forest Standards from major accreditation bodies and acceptance by Ghana’s major trading partners.

d) Facilitate and monitor the forest and chain of custody certification processes and provide support to the activities of certification bodies in the country.

e) Promote awareness about, and improve communication and information sharing on, forest certification and sustainable forest management among key stakeholders.

f) Act as a focal point for training and capacity building in forest certification.

g) Provide liaison with other forest certification bodies especially in the West Africa Sub-Region.

h) Enter into agreement with any Accreditation Body to act as the National Initiative or equivalent body for the Accreditation Body, where so required to facilitate the endorsement of Ghana’s forest management and forest certification standards

4. When functioning as the Forest Stewardship Council’s National Initiative in Ghana, WG shall promote the mission and activities of FSC in the country, including

a) promoting public awareness and knowledge about FSC A.C.

b) monitoring the use of the FSC trademark logo

c) Facilitating FSC membership application and maintaining a register of membership

d) supporting FSC members with information and acting as liaison between members and FSC A.C

e) Supporting FSC and certification bodies in certification processes in the country

f) Communicating with FSC secretariat and with the FSC Regional Office for Africa.