Ghana Ocean Accounts Roadmap Workshop

How can Ghana strengthen the information needed to manage its ocean economy and support sustainable development? That question brought together government representatives, technical experts and other stakeholders in Accra for the Ghana Ocean Accounts Roadmap Workshop.

Jointly convened by the SDGs Advisory Unit, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP), the workshop explored how Ocean Accounts could support Ghana’s policy and community priorities and help shape a national roadmap for Ocean Accounts development, building on Ghana’s Sustainable Ocean Plan and Blue Economy Strategy.

Strengthening cooperation on Ocean Accounts

The workshop marked an important milestone in cooperation between Ghana and GOAP.

Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Sustainable Development Goals Advisory Unit to cooperate with GOAP on the development and mainstreaming of Ocean Accounts in Ghana, alongside Dr Phil James from the GOAP Secretariat.

The signing was witnessed by Hon. Dzifa Abla Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts; Dr Abubakari Wayo, Chief Director at the Office of the President; Fred K. Antwi-Boadu, Coordinator of the Blue Economy Secretariat; and Eyram Agbemava, Technical Advisor at the SDG Advisory Unit.

From priorities to a national roadmap

The opening sessions focused on identifying the policy and community priorities that Ocean Accounts should support in Ghana.

On Day 2, participants mapped how ocean information currently moves between institutions and communities, identifying where gaps remain and what actions are needed to improve access to relevant ocean information. They then matched Ghana’s identified priorities with existing information flows and considered what additional actions would be needed where information was not yet available.

In the final session, a smaller focus group brought together the findings from the previous sessions and made decisions on the key elements of a Ghana Ocean Accounts roadmap.

The workshop marked an important step towards a more coordinated approach to Ocean Accounts in Ghana and a stronger evidence base for sustainable ocean planning and decision-making.