The newly protected area, covering more than 700 km², is one of Ghana’s most important marine ecosystems. Its nutrient-rich waters, fed by the Benguela Current, contain vital breeding and nursery grounds for fish species such as sardines, anchovies and mackerel, which are essential to Ghana’s fishing communities. Its mangrove forests also protect the coastline from erosion and provide a habitat for many fish species.

Across the country, fish accounts for around 60 per cent of the total intake of animal protein (and between 50 and 80 per cent, depending on the region and the season). It is therefore the primary source of protein, ahead of poultry and beef.

This clearly demonstrates the fundamental importance of these ecosystems and underlines the efforts being made to ensure their sustainable protection. Years of overfishing, often by foreign industrial trawlers, pollution and the escalating impacts of climate change have significantly worsened the condition of the marine areas off the Ghanaian coast. Over the past 20 years, for example, anchovy catches have declined by 71.5 per cent. Once an inexpensive and nutritious staple food, anchovies have now become a scarce resource.

This decline also has significant social consequences. As women make up the majority of those employed in fish processing, the sharp reduction in catches has had a considerable impact on their incomes and on gender equality in the country. These knock-on effects highlight the immense value of the marine areas. They are at the centre of interconnected social, economic, environmental and cultural systems without which Ghanaian society could not function.

To ensure the effective and sustainable protection of the Marine Protected Area (MPA), a zoning system has been introduced. Core zones are fully protected to allow fish stocks to recover in highly sensitive areas, while multiple-use zones support regulated fishing and community activities. This approach is backed by stricter enforcement measures to combat illegal fishing and by continuous scientific monitoring. In addition, the affected coastal communities have been actively involved in the design of the MPA and will manage it jointly with the government and its partners. This is intended to ensure that protection measures are not only effective but also equitable and locally supported.

In June, heads of state and government will gather in Kenya for the Our Ocean Conference, which will be held on the African continent for the first time. The decisions taken there will mark a crucial step towards achieving the global goal of protecting at least 30 per cent of the world’s oceans.