The distribution of benefits derived from Forest resources

The document examines the distribution of benefits from forest resources in Ghana, highlighting a disconnect between constitutional mandates and actual practice. While the 1992 Constitution establishes a specific revenue-sharing formula for Stool and Skin lands, the Forestry Commission often retains significant portions of revenue (such as 50% of stumpage fees and contract area rent) without clear legal backing. The briefing also details various benefit-sharing mechanisms for naturally occurring and planted trees, and reviews international instruments like the African Charter and the Convention on Biological Diversity that support community rights to resource benefits.

• The 1992 Constitution of Ghana mandates a specific distribution formula for revenue from Stool and Skin lands: after a 10% administrative deduction for the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL), the remainder is split between the stool (25%), traditional authority (20%), and district assembly (55%).
• There is a significant gap between constitutional law and practice regarding forest revenue; the Forestry Commission (FC) frequently collects fees that should be managed by the OASL and withholds 50% of collected stumpage fees and contract area rent before applying the constitutional sharing formula, a practice the document notes lacks clear legal backing.
• Social Responsibility Agreements (SRAs) are mandatory annexes to Timber Utilization Contracts (TUCs) that require logging companies to provide amenities or services to local communities costing at least 5% of the stumpage fee value of harvested timber.

APA

ClientEarth (2013). The distribution of benefits derived from Forest resources. https://www.clientearth.org/media/0rwgmkg5/2013-11-01-the-distribution-of-benefits-derived-from-forest-resources-in-ghana-ce-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. The distribution of benefits derived from Forest resources. 2013. https://www.clientearth.org/media/0rwgmkg5/2013-11-01-the-distribution-of-benefits-derived-from-forest-resources-in-ghana-ce-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=The distribution of benefits derived from Forest resources |date=November 2013 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/0rwgmkg5/2013-11-01-the-distribution-of-benefits-derived-from-forest-resources-in-ghana-ce-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2013distribution, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{The distribution of benefits derived from Forest resources}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/0rwgmkg5/2013-11-01-the-distribution-of-benefits-derived-from-forest-resources-in-ghana-ce-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }