Experts and stakeholders are pushing for the creation of a unified, high-level authority to oversee Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Ghana, arguing that the current fragmented institutional approach risks undermining sustainability and effective management of the country’s marine environment.
At a national training workshop held under the MarEcoPlan initiative, participants highlighted the need for a single executive-led body that brings together the various agencies, institutions, and actors involved in managing Ghana’s ocean resources. Such an entity, they argued, would streamline decision-making, resolve conflicts, and promote long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems.
The call comes as Ghana intensifies efforts under the MarEcoPlan project—an ambitious three-year, $3 million pilot programme focused on integrating Payment for Ecosystem Services and nature-based coastal solutions into marine planning. Ghana is one of three countries, alongside Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, implementing the project through the Fisheries Committee of the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Facilitator of the workshop, Mrs. Dieynaba Seck, an international consultant on MSP for the project, emphasised that a coordinated governance structure is crucial for success. “Marine Spatial Planning cannot thrive in a siloed institutional environment,” she said, stressing that Ghana must go beyond planning documents to actual implementation driven by a centralised body.
Mrs. Seck noted the immense potential of ocean spaces—covering 71% of the Earth’s surface—as vital sources of food, income, biodiversity, and climate regulation. Yet, she warned that uncoordinated exploitation, growing demand for marine resources, and climate-related pressures make it imperative for Ghana to adopt a more structured and inclusive approach.
She also outlined how MSP serves as a tool for balancing social, economic, and ecological objectives, requiring the engagement of all stakeholders—from coastal communities and fishers to oil companies, conservationists, and policymakers. “Stakeholder involvement is not just a formality—it’s how you build legitimacy, resolve conflicts early, and foster ownership of the outcomes,” she said.
Dr. Kwame Adu Agyekum, the national consultant for the Ghana component of the MarEcoPlan, supported the call for a governance overhaul, warning that technical and legal frameworks alone cannot ensure success without strong institutional leadership.
Key elements of successful MSP, according to the facilitators, include robust data collection, stakeholder mapping, administrative boundary setting, and regular monitoring and evaluation. Mrs. Seck cautioned that the MSP process should not end at policy formulation, but must extend into implementation, with evaluation used as a tool to refine both strategy and outcomes.
As Ghana seeks to harness its blue economy potential, participants at the workshop concluded that building an inclusive, centralised structure to drive marine planning could be the key to sustainable marine governance.
