The 2nd International Conference on Ocean Governance opened on Tuesday, 2nd September, at the University of Ghana School of Law (UGSoL) with strong calls from Ghanaian and international officials for deeper legal reforms, institutional innovation, and multilateral cooperation to protect the world’s oceans against mounting threats.
The three-day conference, themed “Emergent Issues in the Marine Environment and the Law of the Sea”, was spearheaded by the Ocean Governance, Research and Development Project under UGSoL in partnership with the Norwegian Government.
The event drew academics, policymakers, diplomats, and legal experts to deliberate on frameworks for sustainable ocean use in the era of climate change, pollution, and illegal exploitation.
Delivering the Special Guest Address, Solicitor-General Mrs Helen Akpene Ziwu, who represented the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, underscored Ghana’s constitutional and international obligations to safeguard its marine resources.
“The sea forms part of our territorial heritage, and the laws that govern it must reflect the complexities of our developmental needs, our ecological duties and our long-term national interests,” she said.
Mrs Ziwu explained that the Ministry of Justice is currently working with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to review key legislation while exploring domestication of emerging international instruments, such as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement.
She stressed that building ocean governance requires institutional innovation, highlighting proposals for a dedicated Centre for Ocean Governance at the University of Ghana.
“Such an institution, rooted in public policy needs, would enhance our national ability to study, interpret, and apply laws that are responsive to challenges in the marine sector. My office is open to working closely with the university in this regard,” she pledged.
Her remarks were echoed by Dr Peter Dery, representing the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, who warned that Ghana’s marine lifeline is “under siege”.
He noted that illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing costs the country about GHC 50 million annually, while plastic waste—making up nearly 20% of coastal debris—inflicts an additional $68 million in economic losses each year.
“Climate change is warming our waters, raising the sea level and eroding coastal lands. These are not distant threats. They are lived realities of our coastal communities,” he emphasized.
Dr Dery outlined three priority areas for the ministry in embracing issues of ocean governance: strengthening marine research capacity through investments in biodiversity studies and observation systems, integrating ocean governance into Ghana’s climate framework, and promoting inter-ministerial coordination with fisheries, transport, energy, defence, and traditional authorities.
Prof. Godwin Awandare, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, representing Vice Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, highlighted that the University of Ghana’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan anchors its research in sustainability, equity, and inclusiveness. He commended UGSoL for spearheading the project.
“Ocean governance is an urgent, complex issue and vital to the sustainable future of our continent and planet,” he remarked, adding that the partnership with Norway has catalysed an “entire academic ecosystem.”
The Dean of UGSoL, Prof. Peter Atupare, framed ocean governance as “not merely a technical exercise in regulation. It is an act of moral imagination.”
He argued that governance involves equity, intergenerational justice, and stewardship. “Our ocean governance project… has now grown into two active master’s programmes and a growing cohort of researchers across the continent,” he said, reaffirming plans to establish a permanent Centre for Ocean Governance.
Her Excellency Ingrid Skjolaas, Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, who described the oceans as being under “unprecedented pressure”.
She praised Ghana’s commitment to managing 100% of its marine space under a sustainable oceans plan by 2025 but expressed concern about slow progress in global negotiations on plastic pollution.
“We need ambitious countries like Ghana and Norway to step up our efforts even further so that we can secure the agreement as soon as possible,” she urged.
The conference, supported by Norway’s NORAD and the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea, is expected to advance research outputs that shape national, regional, and global policy.
