Making Ghana’s 5G investment deliver for businesses and the economy

Experts have urged for greater community involvement, stricter environmental laws, and enhanced ocean monitoring systems to safeguard Ghana's marine economy. This plea emerged from the Ghana Ocean Dialogue, organized by Emerging Climate Frontiers and the Ghana Marine Climate Innovation Hub, alongside the University of Cape Coast.

The gathering included researchers, policymakers, environmental safeguarders, civil society activists, and youth advocates to deliberate on safeguarding Ghana’s marine space while exploiting its economic potential.

Along Ghana’s coastline, from bustling ports like Tema and Takoradi to fishing villages in the Central and Volta regions, the ocean supports trade, sustains families, and defines coastal culture. However, beaches are now choked with plastic, eroding at alarming rates, and fish stocks are dwindling. Dr Simon Mariwah, Provost of UCC, emphasized that much of the litter is not from beachgoers or fishermen but from inland communities.

Illegal small-scale mining, banned chemical use in fishing, shoreline erosion, sea-level rise, and overfishing were also cited as threats.

The dialogue proposed a five-pillar framework for a sustainable ocean economy: Blue Wealth, Blue Health, Blue Knowledge, Blue Finance, and Blue Equity. Dr Dorothy Khasisi Lukhabi of the Centre for Coastal Management called for immediate action, robust policy implementation by 2035, and the preservation of natural coastal defenses. Edem Alipo of the ECF launched the Ghana Marine Climate Innovation Hub, aiming to link academic research with policy-making.

Dr Mabel Anim, a coastal geomorphologist, cautioned against premature adoption of emerging climate technologies like ocean alkalinity enhancement, warning of the need for rigorous testing and integration of scientific research with indigenous knowledge. Prof Benjamin Kofi Nyarko stressed the importance of incorporating traditional management practices into modern coastal governance, emphasizing the need for inclusive dialogue and clear communication to address community concerns over livelihood losses and unkept promises.

Monica Tampuri advocated for educational initiatives, involving schoolchildren in ocean stewardship, and transparent research that benefits local communities directly. On data, Ms Djaba highlighted the EPA’s efforts to build data hubs and collaborate with academia on a shared geospatial database to support policy decisions and access to carbon markets.

Prof Nyarko and Dr Anim called for a unified ocean financing structure, mentioning avenues such as the Green Climate Fund, carbon credits from mangrove conservation, and blue bonds, stressing equitable benefit distribution through recognized community leaders.

Obed Osabutey of NADMO called for expanded training in sustainable waste management, while Prof Nyarko proposed youth-led plastic collection projects to empower young people economically while cleaning shorelines. Ms Tampuri suggested transforming plastic waste into artistic products for sale to bolster local economies, and urged researchers to communicate findings in local languages and return practical benefits to host communities.

The participants emphasized that Ghana cannot develop a resilient blue economy while its shores are seen as land-based pollution receptacles and while residents are passive observers. They stressed the need to tie national strategies with community-level actions for progress.