11 CSOs petition Prez Mahama over offshore gold exploration in Ghana's inshore waters

Eleven Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) representing fisheries and coastal communities have petitioned President John Mahama to halt offshore gold exploration in Ghana's inshore waters. In a letter dated September 28, 2026, the CSOs argue that any decisions concerning the ocean space must safeguard fisheries, biodiversity, food security, human rights, and coastal livelihoods before proceeding to more intrusive stages.

GoldCoast Resource Corp holds ten offshore reconnaissance licenses covering approximately 10,000 km² along Ghana's coastline between Half Assini and Winneba, reaching about 33 kilometers offshore. The Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ) defined by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146) is the coastal waters between the coastline and twelve nautical miles offshore.

The CSOs express concerns that significant portions of the licensed area fall within the IEZ. They have raised legal concerns under Sections 32(3) and 99(6) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, questioning the legality of vibro-coring, bulk sampling, and dredging. The CSOs also warn that seismic and other acoustic surveys, increased vessel traffic, seabed disturbance, and sediment plumes may impact spawning and nursery grounds, benthic habitats, and marine mammals.

They urge the government to publish the official coordinates and licence instruments, commission an independent spatial overlay showing the licenses in relation to sensitive habitats, clarify legal and environmental approvals for each phase, and determine whether existing licenses should continue, be modified, or be cancelled.