Ghana is on the verge of establishing its first Marine Protected Area after the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture completed extensive consultations with coastal communities in the Western Region.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, announced that the official declaration of the Greater Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area will be made soon, following what she described as overwhelming community support during recent engagements.
“MPAs are proven tools for ecological recovery. Protecting critical habitats gives marine life the space to regenerate, ultimately benefiting our fishers, communities, and economy,” she said.
The Minister consulted 22 communities in the Ahanta West Municipality, including Egyambra, Princess Town, Cape Three Points, Dixcove, Busua, and Akwidaa, among others.
These discussions were built on earlier technical consultations conducted by the Marine Protected Area Committee.
The initiative represents Ghana’s commitment to rebuilding depleted fish stocks and protecting marine biodiversity. Local fishers and traditional leaders have endorsed the project, recognizing its potential long-term benefits for both ecology and the economy.
However, communities have linked their support to the demand for improved infrastructure and social services. Residents called for better roads, electricity access, education facilities, and healthcare services to support their transition during the Marine Protected Area (MPA) implementation.
Madam Arthur assured communities that their concerns would be incorporated into the broader implementation strategy and forwarded to relevant government agencies and development partners.
The MPA establishment draws its legal authority from Section 91 of the Fisheries Act 2002, which empowers the minister to declare marine reserves after stakeholder consultation.
The initiative also aligns with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (2022) and the Marine Fisheries Management Plan (2022-2026).
Ghana announced its intention to establish marine protected areas at the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens, Greece, in April 2024. The commitment forms part of efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goal 14, which is the sustainable management of marine ecosystems and the conservation of marine areas.
The Cape Three Points area was selected due to its ecological importance and the need to protect critical marine habitats.
The MPA is expected to serve as a model for similar initiatives along Ghana’s 550-kilometer coastline.
