By Sarah Baafi
Ghana has taken a major step toward strengthening ocean governance and sustainable marine resource management with moves to harmonise its Blue Economy Strategy (BES) and the Ghana Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP).
The Senior Advisor to the President on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, held a high-level meeting in Accra with the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, to advance coordination between the two national frameworks.
The engagement forms part of ongoing government efforts to improve policy coherence, deepen inter-institutional collaboration, and ensure effective implementation of Ghana’s blue economy and ocean agenda in line with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
At the meeting, Dr. Thompson proposed the immediate establishment of a Joint Technical Committee made up of representatives from the Blue Economy Secretariat and the SDGs Advisory Unit. The Committee will be tasked with aligning activities, indicators, and progress-tracking mechanisms under both frameworks to support coordinated implementation and provide timely policy input to the Presidency, particularly ahead of international ocean-related engagements.
The proposed Committee is expected to include Ms. Eyram Agbemava, Technical Advisor at the SDGs Advisory Unit; Mr. Fred K. Antwi-Boadu, Coordinator and Focal Person of the Blue Economy Secretariat at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Prof. Berchie Asiedu, Deputy Executive Director (Technical) of the Fisheries Commission; Ms. Patience Ampomah, Senior Planning Analyst at the National Development Planning Commission; and Ms. Jacqueline Aheto, Assistant Director I at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Hon. Emelia Arthur welcomed the proposal and expressed her full support for the formation of the Joint Technical Committee. She underscored the critical role of strong inter-sectoral collaboration in improving ocean governance, promoting sustainable fisheries management, and accelerating the implementation of Ghana’s blue economy priorities.
The Minister noted that harmonising the two frameworks would enhance efficiency, reduce duplication of efforts, and enable Ghana to present a clear and unified national position on ocean and blue economy issues at both regional and global levels.
The harmonisation initiative is seen as a significant milestone in Ghana’s commitment to sustainable marine resource management, climate resilience, food security, and inclusive economic growth, while reinforcing the country’s leadership role in global ocean governance and sustainable development.
