Researchers, regulators and civil society leaders have called for stronger community participation, tighter enforcement of environmental regulations and better ocean data systems, warning that pollution, coastal erosion and depleted fish stocks are threatening the livelihoods of thousands of people along Ghana’s coastline.
The call came from the Ghana Ocean Dialogue, held under the theme “Shaping Our Blue Economy” and organised by Emerging Climate Frontiers (ECF) and the Ghana Marine Climate Innovation Hub, in partnership with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Cape Coast. The dialogue brought together researchers, policy experts, environmental regulators, civil society leaders, and youth advocates to discuss how Ghana can protect its marine space while tapping the ocean’s economic potential.
Participants noted that from the port cities of Tema and Takoradi to fishing communities in the Central and Volta regions, the sea drives trade, feeds families and shapes coastal culture. However, many beaches are now littered with plastic, retreating under erosion and recording dwindling fish catches.
Delivering a solidarity message, Prof Simon Mariwah, Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies at UCC, noted that much of the plastic washed ashore along Ghana’s coast does not come from beachgoers or fishermen but from communities far inland.
Participants also pointed to illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), which discharges heavy metals and silt into rivers that empty into the sea, as well as the use of banned chemicals such as DDT and re-labelled toxic agrochemicals in fishing. Other threats discussed included shoreline erosion and sea-level rise, which are sweeping away homes, heritage sites and landing beaches, and overfishing.
The dialogue proposed a framework for a sustainable ocean economy built on five pillars: Blue Wealth, Blue Health, Blue Knowledge, Blue Finance and Blue Equity.
On behalf of the Centre for Coastal Management, Dr Dorothy Khasisi Lukhabi said Ghana’s ocean future depends on deliberate action and the full implementation of ocean policies aimed at a resilient blue economy by 2035. She called for stronger institutional coordination, public accountability and evidence-based decision-making, as well as the protection of natural coastal defences.
Edem Alipo, a Carbon Dioxide Removal Fellow at ECF, launched the Ghana Marine Climate Innovation Hub, which seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and policy.
The panel discussion, moderated by ECF Strategic Coordinator Prisca Kuworde, featured Dr Mabel Anim, a coastal geomorphologist at the Department of Geography and Regional Planning, UCC; Prof Benjamin Kofi Nyarko, Principal Investigator for the Ghana Climate University Network; Monica Tampuri, Executive Director of Banyani; and Priscilla Djaba, Programmes Officer at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Dr Anim cautioned that emerging climate interventions, such as ocean alkalinity enhancement, which aims to increase the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, must undergo rigorous feasibility testing before introduction. She stressed that such technologies must respect local realities and integrate scientific research with indigenous knowledge.
Panellists noted that resistance from coastal communities often stems from fears of lost livelihoods, unfulfilled promises, or a lack of consultation.
Prof Nyarko argued that indigenous traditions, including spiritual and customary practices for managing the sea, must be integrated into modern coastal governance. He added that direct engagement and clear communication are needed to help communities understand that environmental regulations ultimately protect their future.
Ms Tampuri called for education on sustainable practices, the involvement of school children in ocean stewardship, and transparent research that delivers visible benefits to local people.
On data, Ms Djaba outlined the EPA’s efforts to build data vulnerability hubs and to work with academia on a shared geospatial database to support evidence-based policy and access to carbon markets.
On financing, Prof Nyarko and Dr Anim called for a unified ocean financing architecture. They pointed to opportunities such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), carbon credits from mangrove conservation, and blue bonds or loans through financial institutions, stressing that benefits must be shared equitably through recognised community leaders.
Obed Osabutey of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) called for expanded training in sustainable waste management.
Prof Nyarko proposed youth-led plastic collection initiatives that would allow young people to earn income while cleaning shorelines. He also urged the EPA to crack down on the illegal relabelling and sale of toxic fishing chemicals.
Ms Tampuri suggested turning collected plastic waste into artistic products for sale to support local economies. She also urged researchers to communicate their findings in local languages and return practical results to their host communities.
Participants stressed that Ghana cannot build a resilient blue economy while its shores serve as dumping grounds for land-based pollution and coastal residents are treated as passive observers, adding that progress will depend on linking national strategies with action at the community level.