With the aim of halting marine pollution and improving the administration and restoration of the country's marine and coastal ecosystems, Ghana will host its inaugural National Blue Economy Summit.
The phrase "blue economy" refers to the sustainable use of marine and coastal natural resources for economic development, the betterment of livelihoods, and the creation of jobs.
It has to do with using and protecting the marine environment while preserving the stability and well-being of marine and coastal ecosystems.
On May 31 and June 1, 2023, the two-day conference is planned to draw 300 attendees, including decision-makers, academics, development partners, and local and global fishing industry leaders.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), it will be hosted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advisory Unit at the Office of the President.
The summit, with the theme "Our Ocean's Health, Our Prosperity, Our Planet's Security," aims to galvanise group action to highlight the benefits that the ocean provides for the nation's economic transformation while also bringing attention to the urgent need to address the critical challenges facing the ocean.
Activities
The summit will feature high-level discussions on seven important ocean-related topics and the filling of policy gaps.
Additionally, it will draw attention to issues like plastic waste, piracy, illegal fishing, creative finance methods, and successful collaborations.
Dr. Eugene Owusu, Special Advisor to the President on the SDGs and Ocean Action, opened the conference yesterday in Accra by warning that the ocean's productivity and health were deteriorating at an alarming rate and represented a threat to mankind.
"Therefore, the myth that the ocean is too large to collapse is erroneous.
The evidence is obvious, he declared.
According to him, the three main issues facing the ocean were overfishing, climate change, and plastic waste.
According to Dr. Owusu, the world needs a new ocean agenda built around the understanding that the blue economy should serve as a driver for long-term growth.
Ocean significance
Dominic Opoku Manu Asante, a policy analyst at the SDGs Advisory Unit, noted that the ocean was crucial to human life since it covered 70% of the earth's surface, provided a crucial source of food, and supported essential industries.
He said the loss of jobs, the extinction of species, and the increasing vulnerability of coastal populations would result from inaction if the ocean were not conserved.
Dr. Angela Lusigi, UNDP Ghana's Resident Representative, stated: "The threat is enormous.
Climate change is raising sea levels, which poses a threat to life and means of subsistence, particularly for coastal towns and communities worldwide.
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