The validation exercise was to assess the scientific rigour, practical feasibility, and social equity of the draft ocean plan, to produce a validated, evidence-based document.

The plan will serve as a robust foundation for the long-term sustainability of the ocean and the development of a national blue economy strategy document for Ghana.

The two-day workshop, held concurrently across four coastal regions, brought together marine professionals, policy experts, civil society organisations (CSOs), and community leaders to critically evaluate and validate the SOP.

Participants examined the plan’s key pillars, including ocean wealth (sustainable utilisation of ocean resources), ocean health (restoring and sustaining healthy marine ecosystems), and ocean security, which borders on ensuring safe and secure conditions at sea for all.

The Chairman of NDPC and Senior Advisor to the President on SDGs, Dr Nii Moi Thompson, at the opening of the workshop in Accra last Friday, emphasised the importance of the SOP in balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship.

He stated that the plan would provide a roadmap to safeguard the health and resilience of Ghana's oceans, guide public and private investment decisions, and strengthen institutional coordination.

Dr Thompson expressed gratitude to partners and stakeholders, wishing them fruitful deliberations and a successful validation workshop.

Overview

Providing an overview, the SOP Consultant, Ebenezer Appah-Sampong, outlined the size and character of Ghana’s ocean space, including territorial waters, continental shelf, fishing zones, lagoons, estuaries, wetlands, and coastline resources.

He put the spotlight on key economic and natural resources such as fisheries, offshore hydrocarbons, minerals, ports, cultural sites, and subsea cables, saying that while they contributed significantly to the blue economy, they were under increasing pressure from illegal fishing, pollution, coastal erosion and climate change.

Mr Appah-Sampong further explained that Ghana, as a member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, had committed to bringing 30 per cent of its ocean space under sustainable management by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050.

The environmental science researcher stressed the need to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to protect the country’s ocean and marine resources.

The Greater Accra Regional Development Planning Officer, Jemima Lamptey, who stood in for the Regional Minister, expressed appreciation to the conveners and participants.

She stated that the oceans provided food, jobs, energy, trade and cultural opportunities for millions of Ghanaians, but faced serious threats from pollution, over-exploitation, climate change and unsustainable land use, a trend that must change.

In a solidarity message, Commander Abu Zakaria of the Ghana Navy explained that the SOP reflected Ghana’s national priorities, while aligning with global ocean science efforts. 

Context

Ghana is a coastal country with a shoreline of about 550 kilometres (km) and a quarter of the population living by the sea.

The ocean and marine resources are vital for socio-economic development, providing a source of livelihood to thousands of people.

The marine resources also provide food security, jobs, trade and cultural value.

Yet, they are under growing pressure from overfishing, pollution, coastal erosion and climate change.

It is in response to those challenges that the SOP is being developed to harmonise institutional arrangements for managing marine resources.

The SOP would be a framework for related institutions to collaborate and explore initiatives for sustainable ocean management. 

Blue economy

The Advisor to the Technical Committee on SOP, Professor Kwasi Appeaning-Addo, said the SOP was going to drive the blue economy.

"We are looking at wealth within the ocean; how to ensure sustainable use of the resources in the ocean.

We believe that if the ocean is sustainably managed, it can help to reduce unemployment in the country significantly," he said.