By Joyce Gyekye
Ghana joins the global community to mark Ocean Day today. The objective of the celebration is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens to protect the ocean and mobilise as well as unite the global community to manage the oceans sustainably.
The UN General Assembly on December 5, 2008, passed a declaration that set June 8 as World Oceans Day.
This year’s celebration is under the theme “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing”.
In a statement to mark the day, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency and other partners, emphasised the need for local action in managing and utilising ocean resources.
The minister reiterated the importance of strengthening strategic alliances among stakeholders for improved ocean health. Dr Afriyie called for deliberate efforts to ensure smarter investments in ocean action as the county’s ocean space is mainly financed through public, philanthropic, and donor resources.
He called on individuals, institutions, and communities to unite in effectively managing, protecting, and sustaining the ocean for a better lifestyle.
