Ghana declares first MPA

Zoned for sustainability and conservation

GHANA: Ghana has taken a historic step toward safeguarding its marine environment with the official declaration of the Greater Cape Three Points Area as the country’s first-ever Marine Protected Area (MPA).

Speaking at during a ceremony this week, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, described the declaration as a defining moment in Ghana’s environmental and fisheries management history.

“This moment will be remembered as the day Ghana took a bold and irreversible step to protect her oceans, restore her fisheries, and secure the future of her coastal communities,” she told delegates gathered at  Busua in the Western Region.

The newly declared MPA at Greater Cape Three Points is widely recognised for its rich marine biodiversity and its importance to local livelihoods, particularly fishing communities. However, the area has also faced increasing environmental pressures, including overfishing and habitat degradation.

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang formally declared the Marine Protected Area during the ceremony.

According to the Minister, the designation of the MPA marks a major policy milestone and signals a shift in Ghana’s approach to marine resource management that places sustainability and long-term conservation at the forefront.

She emphasised that the achievement was the result of extensive collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, academia, civil society, fisheries associations, and development partners. Special recognition was given to Mpoano for its technical leadership and role in community engagement throughout the process.

The establishment of the MPA is expected to support the recovery of fish stocks, restore degraded ecosystems, and enhance the resilience of coastal communities. It also forms a key component of Ghana’s broader blue economy agenda, aimed at promoting sustainable ocean-based economic growth while protecting marine resources.

Describing the initiative as more than just a conservation effort, Arthur noted that it represents the beginning of a new social contract between people and the sea.”

“(This is) The beginning of a network, the beginning of restoration, and the beginning of a future where conservation and prosperity go hand in hand,” she said.

The declaration positions Ghana among a growing number of countries adopting Marine Protected Areas as a tool for sustainable fisheries management and marine conservation, with expectations that more MPAs will be established nationwide in the coming years.

Protecting significant coastal ecosystems

The Greater Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area (GCTPMPA) covers 703.86 square kilometres and represents Ghana’s effort towards achieving the 30X30 target of the Global Biodiversity Framework. 

This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, is being undertaken in accordance with Section 39 of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146).

The Greater Cape Three Points area is widely recognised as one of Ghana’s most ecologically and biologically significant coastal and marine environments. However, years of overfishing, illegal practices, pollution, and climate change have significantly degraded these ecosystems, threatening both marine life and the livelihoods of communities that depend on them.

As such, fishing will not be totally banned within the MPA which will be governed by a zoning scheme that aims to balance conservation with sustainable use.

PHOTO: Dignitaries gather to celebrate the announcement of Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area. (Source: Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture)

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