Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable ocean governance at the 10th Our Ocean Conference, currently underway in Busan, South Korea. Leading the Ghanaian delegation is Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, who joined fellow ministers and global ocean leaders at the opening ceremony of the prestigious international event.
The Government of the Republic of Korea extended a formal invitation to Hon. Emelia Arthur to participate in this year’s conference, which carries the theme “Our Ocean, Our Action.” Since its inception in 2014, the Our Ocean Conference has grown into a vital global platform for advancing the protection and sustainable use of the world’s oceans, treating them as a shared resource crucial to the planet’s health and the wellbeing of future generations.
The conference focuses on six key thematic areas: Marine Protected Areas, Sustainable Fisheries, Marine Pollution, Climate Change, Maritime Security, and Sustainable Blue Economies. Through these pillars, participating nations and organizations are expected to propose new voluntary commitments, backed by measurable impacts. These include financial pledges, scientific research initiatives, and strategies to expand marine protected areas (MPAs).
Ghana’s participation this year holds particular significance. The country had previously made a commitment during the 9th Our Ocean Conference to establish MPAs as part of its broader marine conservation strategy. At the 10th edition, Ghana is expected to present progress made toward this commitment, including challenges encountered due to a temporary pause in support from the United States Government for the MPA initiative. Minister Arthur will also use the platform to explore new partnerships and opportunities to ensure continued progress.
The conference also featured an exhibition and a side event hosted by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), where transparency in ocean governance was highlighted. EJF showcased their ongoing projects and efforts to promote transparency and accountability in fisheries management, with Ghana represented among the panelists discussing innovative approaches and success stories.
Hon. Emelia Arthur’s presence underscores Ghana’s active engagement in global dialogues on ocean sustainability and highlights the country’s readiness to collaborate on international solutions to ocean challenges.
The 10th Our Ocean Conference is expected to produce a new set of global commitments that will shape the future of ocean conservation and sustainable development. Ghana’s contributions will be key to ensuring West Africa’s voice is heard in these pivotal discussions.
Source : MOFAD
