Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, has reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to the global goal of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
She delivered these remarks at the 30×30 Ocean Reception hosted by Oceana, one of the world’s leading ocean conservation organizations, on the margins of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
The reception brought together global leaders, policy makers, civil society, and development partners to assess progress and galvanize action toward the 30×30 target, an ambitious global conservation milestone.
In her address, Hon. Arthur emphasized that for Ghana, the 30×30 agenda goes beyond conservation and is a national imperative grounded in the need to sustain livelihoods, enhance food security, and preserve cultural heritage.
“As a coastal nation, the ocean sustains the livelihoods of millions of our people. Achieving 30×30 is not just a conservation goal—it is a national imperative,” she stated.
Hon. Arthur highlighted the steps Ghana has taken since pledging to expand its Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage at the 2024 Our Ocean Conference in Greece.
The country now returns to the global stage not only with renewed resolve but with a concrete plan of action to implement that pledge.
Central to Ghana’s strategy is the development of a National Marine Protection Strategy, a science-based and inclusive framework to guide the establishment of MPAs, Closed Areas, and other effective conservation measures.
The strategy is being developed through broad consultations with fishing communities, traditional authorities, scientists, and civil society organizations to ensure that marine protection aligns with both ecological priorities and human needs.
Ghana has already identified potential MPA sites, including Cape Three Points, and is employing marine spatial planning tools to assess their ecological and socio-economic significance.
By 2026, the government aims to formally designate at least two MPAs, with a long-term vision of scaling up toward a nationally defined 30×30 target.
“Our approach is ambitious but grounded,” Hon. Arthur noted. “It combines the best available science with traditional knowledge and the lived experience of our coastal communities.”
She also emphasized Ghana’s commitment to regional and international collaboration, announcing that the country is co-leading a West African ministerial dialogue at the conference to promote transparency, sustainability, and shared stewardship of the region’s marine resources.
Hon. Arthur concluded by calling on development partners and the global community to support countries like Ghana through sustained financing, technical assistance, and capacity-building, so that political ambition can be translated into tangible and lasting impact.
“Ghana stands ready to lead, to act, and to collaborate—because the future of our ocean depends on what we do together, now,” she affirmed.
Ghana’s active participation in the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and its leadership on the 30×30 agenda underscore the nation’s growing role in shaping global ocean governance and marine biodiversity protection.