Dr Evans Kwasi Arizi, the Chairman of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Technical Advisory Committee, has described Cabinet’s approval for the establishment of Ghana’s first MPA as a historic milestone.
Dr Arizi said it was a milestone in the country’s efforts to restore marine ecosystems, rebuild fish stocks and secure coastal livelihoods.
Speaking at a Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) media forum, he said the approval demonstrates strong the political will to implement both national fisheries management plans and international obligations such as the UN SDG 14, the Abidjan Convention, and the Global Biodiversity Framework, which required countries to protect 30 per cent of their marine and terrestrial areas by 2030.
He commended “The government’s political will to protect marine habitat, conserve marine ecosystems, restore depleted fish stock, improve marine fisheries and sustain livelihoods, not only in the Greater Cape Three Points enclave but in Ghana as a whole.”
He explained that the legal foundation for the initiative was captured under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), Section 39, which empowers the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to declare marine reserves in consultation with relevant institutions and stakeholders.
Dr Arizi noted that “The Ministry commissioned a study led by Prof Nunoo; they were able to identify 21 potential sites, and the Cape Tree Point enclave stood out among all; that’s why we are focusing there for now.”
He said they were also trying to document the processes, and once done, they would move to the Volta Estuary, which is the second MPA, to make it easy to follow for the designation and implementation.
He said the proposed 700-square-kilometre MPA was expected to restore damaged habitats, rebuild depleted fish stocks, enhance fisheries output and create economic opportunities through ecotourism and related enterprises.
“We are not closing the entire area,” he stressed. “Certain zones will allow fishing with specific gear such as hook-and-line to protect juvenile fish and allow them to spawn at least once in their lifetime.”
The Ministry, he indicated, would support alternative livelihoods, including vocational training and tourism-related activities, to ensure that local communities were not disadvantaged.
Dr Arizi commended the strong institutional collaboration among the Fisheries Commission, Hen Mpoano, an NGO, Bloomberg, the Technical Advisory Committee, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), academia and other partners.
GNA
