Yesterday, Ghana took a historic step by officially declaring its first Marine Protected Area (MPA), safeguarding one of the country’s most ecologically and biologically significant coastal and marine environments.

The MPA will be located in the Greater Cape Three Points area of the Western Region, following decades of advocacy and planning. The designation places approximately 703 km² of ocean under formal legal protection.

The area is recognised for its critical fish breeding and nursery grounds, as well as its coastal wetlands and mangrove ecosystems, which provide habitat for marine species and help protect shorelines from erosion. Its diverse seabed and reef systems also support rich marine biodiversity and ecological balance.

However, a combination of overfishing, illegal fishing practices, pollution and climate change has significantly degraded these ecosystems, threatening both marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The MPA will not introduce a total ban on fishing. Instead, it has been divided into different zones, allowing highly sensitive areas to recover while permitting regulated fishing in surrounding “multiple-use zones”.

Officials say this approach is designed to restore fish stocks while supporting sustainable livelihoods.

Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, described the declaration as a defining moment for the country. She said:“The declaration of our first Marine Protected Area is not just a policy milestone, it is a national turning point. For the first time, Ghana decisively says: our marine resources must endure.”

She added:“This Marine Protected Area signals a new direction, where conservation and prosperity are not in conflict, but in partnership. It is just the beginning of a network, of restoration, and of a new social contract between people and the sea,” she added.

Stephen Kankam, Deputy Director of Hen Mpoano, said: “In simple terms, the declaration of Ghana’s first MPA means giving fish the space to recover, reducing destructive activities, and ensuring that fishing can continue in a more sustainable way.”

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