Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to regional maritime collaboration, sustainability, and ocean governance during a pivotal high-level conference held at the UM6P Campus in Rabat, Morocco. The event, themed “Atlantic Africa: Ambitions for Integration and the Operationalization Process,” brought together key stakeholders from across the Atlantic region to discuss blue economy development, energy, and maritime security.
Hon. Emelia Arthur, Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, delivered a keynote address and called for stronger Atlantic cooperation to address shared maritime challenges. She emphasized the urgency of collective action to protect ocean resources, combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and enhance resilience through scientific collaboration and sustainable development.
“Our ocean is our shared future. Strengthening governance, harmonizing policies, and investing in ocean science and technology are not just priorities, they are imperatives,” said Hon. Arthur.
Key priorities she outlined include:
- Robust enforcement of maritime laws across the Atlantic African states.
- Enhanced regional data sharing and marine science collaboration.
- Promotion of sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation.
- Investment in ocean observation technologies and post-harvest infrastructure.
- Community-driven initiatives to build capacity and safeguard livelihoods.
Hon. Arthur also highlighted the challenges facing Ghana and the West African sub-region, such as high aquaculture production costs, limited access to quality inputs, environmental degradation, and institutional capacity gaps. She called for policy reforms and regional synergies to transform the Atlantic into a sustainability and economic growth pillar.
The forum, hosted by the Policy Center for the New South, marks a significant step in uniting Atlantic African countries around a shared vision for maritime governance, blue economy integration, and coastal resilience.
As Ghana continues to take bold steps at home, including establishing Marine Protected Areas in regions like Greater Cape Three Points and Traditional Fishing Methods to aid stock recovery, the country is positioning itself as a regional leader in sustainable ocean stewardship.
