Legally Required Document

Applicable to: All timber right holders exporting CITES species

Holder of Document: Exporter of species on CITES list. 

Signature required by:
Wildlife Services Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana.

Key considerations when checking the doc:
1. Is the permit valid?
2. Is the permit stamped and signed by authorities at the port of export?
 Is the permit stamped by the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana?
 Is the name on the permit the same as that of the exporter who is the property mark holders?

Purpose and content of document:
All timber right holders exporting timber and timber products from tree species that are on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) species list require a CITES Permit. All exporters of Pericopsis elata (Afromosia) and Pterocarpus erinaceus (Rosewood), which are the species in Ghana found in Appendix II of the CITES Convention, are required to obtain CITES Export Permit from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana. Contents of the CITES Export Permit include the seal of CITES, Ghana’s Coat of Arms, permit or certificate number, validity period, exporter details (name, address and signature), special conditions of the permit (e.g. not transferrable and shipment is made in single consignment), purpose of transaction, security stamp, scientific and common name of plant, country of origin, place and date of issue, export endorsement (port of export, date and signature and official stamp) and bill of lading or air waybill number.

Evidence limitations and weaknesses:
Difficult to detect chronologically related fraud. For example, there have been allegations in the media of CITES permits being backdated to escape ban periods.