Ghana Principles for Certification

Principle One : Compliance with laws and regulations
Principle Two : Land tenure, stakeholder and resource rights
Principle Three :  Conservation and maintenance of biological diversity
Principle Four : Rights and responsibilities of workers
Principle Five : Benefits from the forest: revenue generation and the equitable distribution of costs and benefits
Principle Six : Maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem productivity
Principle Seven :  Forest management system

The criteria and indicators s have been field tested by independent experts, and current work centres on two particular aspects. Firstly, identifying and funding an appropriate affordable locally based institution for administration, and secondly, on discussions with specific timber companies to undertake and evolve practical approaches to certification.

An important element is to be able to track timber from its source. Ghana already has a tried and tested numbering and inspection system, coupled with a very detailed statistical system for exports. Project work has been done using hand-held comp uters for instant data transmission.