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

Eleven Civil Society Organisations have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to review offshore gold exploration activities in Ghana's inshore waters. The coalition, which works in fisheries and coastal communities, expressed concerns that decisions affecting the ocean space must protect fisheries, biodiversity, food security, human rights and coastal livelihoods before the programme advances to more intrusive stages.

The CSOs cited the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), which defines the Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ) as the coastal waters between the coastline and twelve nautical miles offshore, and warned that substantial portions of the licensed area fall within the IEZ. The coalition raised legal concerns, citing Section 32(3) and Section 99(6) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, which prohibit the holder of a reconnaissance licence from drilling or excavating, and make it an offence to use a floating platform or other equipment for mining or dredging to obtain minerals in Ghana's natural water bodies, respectively.

Brief written by urgent.news from 3News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.