The Stakeholder consultations on the draft Ghana Blue Economy Commission Bill, 2026, have moved to the middle and northern belts of the country, with key representatives converging on the Golden Bean Hotel in Kumasi for a two-day engagement to shape a coordinated framework for the sustainable development and governance of Ghana’s blue economy.
The Kumasi consultation forms part of a nationwide process to ensure that the proposed legislation reflects diverse regional perspectives and establishes a robust legal and institutional architecture for managing Ghana’s marine, coastal and inland water resources.
In his opening remarks, the Coordinator of the Blue Economy Secretariat, Mr. Fred Antwi Boadu, underscored the significance of the engagement, describing it as a critical step in building a national consensus around Ghana’s emerging blue economy agenda.
He said the draft Bill seeks to provide the legal and institutional framework for the coordinated governance of the country’s blue economy resources, which span oceans, coasts, rivers, lakes and associated ecosystems.
According to Mr. Antwi Boadu, the blue economy holds immense potential for job creation, food security, trade, transport and environmental sustainability, but its current governance remains fragmented across multiple institutions.
“The objective of this Bill is to establish a coherent, coordinated and sustainable governance system that unlocks the economic potential of our marine, coastal and inland water resources while ensuring environmental protection and social inclusion.”
Mr. Boadu
Mr. Antwi Boadu outlined the roadmap for the Bill, explaining that the consultation was being undertaken within a defined timeline. Following the ongoing stakeholder engagements, the process is expected to progress to discussions with the leadership of Parliament on key policy issues, followed by a national validation exercise, consideration by Cabinet and subsequent submission to Parliament for deliberation and passage.
He emphasized that inclusivity was central to the process, noting that inputs from all regions and sectors were necessary to produce a legislation that is both implementable and nationally owned.
The Kumasi meeting brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including representatives from academia, regional and local government, civil society organisations, development agencies, the private sector, maritime authorities and fishing industry associations.
Inclusive Participation, Strong Regional Backing
The diverse participation, organisers said, was deliberate to ensure that technical, traditional, economic and environmental considerations are adequately captured in the final Bill. The consultation was attended by several Regional Ministers and their representatives, reflecting strong political support for the blue economy agenda beyond the coastal zone.
Present were Mr. Andy Ampofo, representing the Ashanti Regional Minister; Joseph Addae Akwaboa Esq., Bono Regional Minister; Mr. Salisu Be-Awuribe, Savannah Regional Minister; Mr. John Kwadwo Gyapong, Oti Regional Minister; Mr. Ibrahim Tia, North East Regional Minister; and Mr. Akamugri Donatus Atanga, Upper East Regional Minister.
Also in attendance were Municipal Chief Executives for Krachi East and Krachi West, Mr. Safo Nketia and Mr. Prosper Kwaku Addo, whose districts border the Volta Lake and are directly impacted by inland water economy activities.
Members of the Legal and Institutional Committee working on the Bill also participated, including the Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo, Mr. Bismark Tetteh Nyarko, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, alongside other technical experts and legal drafters.
Over the two days, participants are expected to provide technical inputs and recommendations to strengthen the draft legislation, with particular focus on environmental sustainability, effective institutional coordination, equitable benefit-sharing and balanced economic development.
Discussions have centred on critical issues such as the mandate and structure of the proposed Ghana Blue Economy Commission, inter-agency coordination, funding mechanisms, private sector participation, community livelihoods, climate resilience, pollution control and the sustainable management of fisheries and inland water transport.
Stakeholders from the middle and northern belts particularly highlighted the importance of inland water resources, including the Volta Lake, River Oti and other river systems, to the blue economy discourse, which is often perceived as coastal-centric.
Participants argued that communities along the Volta Lake and other inland water bodies depend heavily on fishing, transportation, irrigation and tourism, and must be fully integrated into the national blue economy framework.
Stakeholders Demand Local Linkages and Action on Galamsey, Illegal Fishing
They also called for strong linkages between the proposed Commission and local government structures to ensure effective implementation at the district and community levels. Other key concerns raised included the need to address illegal fishing, water pollution from illegal mining, encroachment on water bodies, inadequate infrastructure for inland water transport, and the need for capacity building and research to support evidence based decision making.
The consultation in Kumasi follows earlier engagements held in the southern and coastal zones, where fisher folk, port authorities, marine researchers and coastal communities provided inputs.
According to the Blue Economy Secretariat, the nationwide consultation strategy is designed to demystify the blue economy concept and build broad-based ownership. While the blue economy is often associated with the ocean, Ghana’s definition encompasses all water-based economic activities, including those on lakes and rivers.
The proposed Ghana Blue Economy Commission, once established, is expected to serve as the apex coordinating body for all blue economy-related activities, providing policy direction, regulatory oversight, and promoting investment and innovation in sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture, maritime transport and logistics, coastal and marine tourism, renewable energy, and water resource management.
Commission to Tackle Pollution and Climate Threats
The Commission is also expected to play a central role in addressing challenges such as marine and freshwater pollution, climate change impacts, overfishing and habitat degradation. Development partners and academic institutions present at the meeting commended the government for adopting a consultative approach, noting that a well-crafted legislation would position Ghana as a leader in blue economy governance in West Africa.
Professor Asare-Bediako, speaking on the side-lines of the engagement, noted that the inclusion of research institutions and universities was crucial to ensure that the Bill is grounded in science and capable of responding to emerging challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
For his part, Mr. Tetteh Nyarko said Parliament was keenly following the consultation process and would ensure thorough scrutiny of the Bill when it is laid before the House to guarantee that it serves the best interests of Ghanaians.
The consultation is expected to end on Thursday with a communique capturing key recommendations from the middle and northern belts to inform further refinement of the Bill before national validation.
The Blue Economy Secretariat reiterated its commitment to an open, transparent and participatory process and called on all stakeholders to contribute constructively to the development of what it described as a transformative legislation for Ghana’s sustainable development.
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