Ghana has taken a significant step toward sustainable ocean governance with the successful validation of its National Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Framework, a strategic initiative designed to balance the diverse and often competing uses of the country’s marine and coastal resources.

The validation process culminated in a three-day national workshop organised by the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission, under the auspices of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD).

The workshop, held from October 20–22, 2025, at Aburi, was themed “Restitution and Validation of the Institutional and Legal Framework and Stakeholder Mapping.”

The event brought together representatives from key state institutions, academia, the private sector, and Civil Society Organisations, the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology (MEST), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), and the University of Ghana, among others. Participants worked collaboratively to refine a shared vision for the sustainable and equitable use of Ghana’s ocean space.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Gaston Djihinto, Secretary-General of the FCWC, commended Ghana for its leadership and commitment to regional cooperation in marine governance.

He urged stakeholders to continue working together to ensure that marine spatial planning moves from policy to effective implementation.

The Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Prof. Benjamin Campion, praised the dedication of participants and reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to a coordinated, science-based approach in managing Ghana’s marine environment.

“This validation marks an important milestone in ensuring that our marine and coastal resources are used sustainably to benefit both current and future generations,” he stated.

The framework discussed during the workshop was developed under the MarEcoPlan Project, a joint initiative of the FCWC and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with funding support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The project seeks to enhance collaboration among Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo in protecting marine ecosystems, improving food security, and promoting blue economy opportunities across the sub-region.

The workshop concluded with broad stakeholder consensus on the validated Marine Spatial Planning Framework—an achievement that underscores Ghana’s determination to harmonise ocean use with conservation, socio-economic development, and community livelihoods.

About FCWC

Established in 2007, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) promotes cooperation in fisheries management among its six member states: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo.

The Committee supports regional efforts to ensure sustainable fisheries, combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and advance the blue economy agenda across West Africa.