Secure continent’s maritime domain – Henry Quartey

 The Minister for the Interior, Mr Henry Quartey, has called on African govern­ments to deliber­ately invest in strengthening state agencies responsible for maritime delimitation.

This, he said was crucial to secure the continent’s maritime domain and ensuring the sus­tainable management of Africa’s ocean resources.

Speaking at the opening of the inaugural International Con­ference on Ocean Governance in Accra yesterday, Mr Quartey outlined the necessity for African nations to develop comprehen­sive maritime policies that aligned with both regional and interna­tional frameworks.

The three-day conference on the theme “Emerging issues in maritime delimitation and ocean governance in Africa: Bridging law, policy, science, and prac­tice,” provides participants with an opportunity to discuss the importance of clear and equitable maritime boundaries.

It also aims to explore how countries could balance economic development with environmental sustainability, while preventing illegal activities such as “piracy and unregulated fishing,” which threaten the continent’s maritime security.

The Minister stressed that strengthening legal frameworks, encouraging regional cooperation, enhancing maritime surveillance, prioritising environmental protec­tion, and engaging in diplomatic negotiations were essential com­ponents of this effort.

“Africa must develop and implement effective policies that balance economic development with environmental sustainability, leveraging scientific research to inform decision-making,” Mr Quartey added.

He noted that many African states struggled with defining their territorial limits due to in­herited boundaries, which hinder the full exploitation of ocean resources.

Mr Quartey mentioned that many African countries faced challenges in managing and pro­tecting their maritime resources due to unclear boundaries and a lack of resources, technology, and expertise.

He, therefore, stressed the urgent need for clear maritime boundaries to avoid conflicts and secure the maritime domain, noting that the Ghana Bound­ary Commission was actively working to enhance the integrity of Ghana’s maritime domain through continuous surveillance and partnerships.

“The Ghana Boundary Commis­sion, in partnership with Ivorian coun­terparts, is engaging relevant stakehold­ers to construct a lighthouse at the Landmark Bound­ary Terminals in the Western Region,” Mr Quartey revealed.

This initiative, he explained, would en­hance maritime safety and prevent disputes between nations.

Vice-Chancellor of the Univer­sity of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, who also opened the conference, empha­sised the importance of interdis­ciplinary collaboration in address­ing the complex challenges of maritime boundary delimitation and ocean governance.

She noted that the University of Ghana’s Ocean Development Project aligned with the institu­tion’s strategic priorities, focusing on engagement and partnerships that amplify research, teaching, and and advocacy in maritime issues.

Prof. Amfo also acknowledged the critical role played by the Norwegian Agency for Devel­opment Cooperation in funding the ocean governance project, which had laid the foundation for what was envisioned to become a full-fledged Ocean Governance Centre under the University of Ghana School of Law.

Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana, Ingrid Mollestad, in her remarks reiterated her country’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s efforts in protecting the ocean and enhancing its resourc­es, underscoring the importance of safeguarding marine environ­ments to generate wealth and development.

Director for Research, Statis­tics, and Information Manage­ment at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mr Ishmael Adjei Browne, touched on the critical role of Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the national economy.

He noted that these sectors significantly contributed to food security, employment, and income generation.

However, he expressed concern over the growing threats to the sector’s sustainability, citing issues such as overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, illegal and un­regulated fishing, and the adverse effects of climate change.

 BY RAISSA SAMBOU