Ghana Urged to Protect Its Oceans to Unlock Blue Economy Potential

The government has been urged to make ocean conservation a national priority as Ghana seeks to maximise the economic opportunities offered by its marine resources.

Professor Edem Mahu, Associate Professor of Marine Biogeochemistry at the University of Ghana, said protecting marine ecosystems was critical to Ghana’s blue economy ambitions, food security and long-term economic development.

Prof. Mahu, who is also Co-Lead of the Ocean Margins Initiative and Chair of the OMI Laboratory at the University of Ghana, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

Ocean Holds Major Economic Potential

According to her, Ghana has significant opportunities to generate economic benefits from its ocean, but poor management of marine resources could undermine those prospects.

She stressed that the ocean deserved greater attention from policymakers, institutions and the general public.

“Ghana has great potential when it comes to the blue economy and the benefits we can derive from the ocean. But to enjoy these benefits, we need to give the ocean the attention it deserves,” she said.

Prof. Mahu noted that Ghana’s maritime territory was almost comparable in size to its land territory and should therefore receive similar consideration in national education, policymaking and development planning.

She also described ocean conservation as a shared national responsibility, stressing that the health of marine ecosystems directly affects both the environment and human well-being.

Call for Ocean Education

Prof. Mahu further advocated the inclusion of ocean literacy in Ghana’s national educational curriculum to help children understand the importance of marine conservation from an early age.

She argued that ocean education should not be limited to university-level studies but should begin during the early stages of formal education.

“People should not only discover the ocean when they get to university. Ocean education should be part of what is taught in our early school days,” she said.

She said building greater public awareness and understanding of the ocean would help create a stronger foundation for protecting Ghana’s marine resources while unlocking their economic potential.