Articles

Ghana, in 2016, took a significant step towards ensuring sustainable fishing with its implementation of the fishing closed season. At the time, the ban was limited to the industrial sector fisheries. It was expanded to cover the artisanal sector fisheries in 2019. Since then, closed seasons have consistently been imposed every year, except in 2020 […]

In November 2023, it was reported that another fisheries observer Samuel Abayitey, while on board tuna vessel Marine 707 was missing and there was no information from either the vessel owners or crew about the circumstances leading to his disappearance. The Fisheries Commission (FC) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) have not […]

Background Ghana is a coastal state with vast maritime opportunities. The economy, livelihoods and culture of Ghanaians and the ocean are intricately linked. Efficient management of the oceans can greatly advance socio-economic growth and development in the country. With a 540km coastline, an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and an extended continental shelf, the country […]

Background  With the renewed focus on the ocean as essential to the attainment of the global Sustainable  Development Goals (SDG), it is no doubt that maritime security governance has been placed at the  fore of national agendas of coastal states across the globe. Ghana remains no exception. The surge  in piratical attacks in the Gulf […]

Editor’s note: As we celebrate World Oceans Day 2021 under the theme “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods”, this policy brief addresses concerns of illegal activities and malpractices within the fisheries sector and their effects on the welfare and livelihoods of coastal communities, specifically in the Gulf of Guinea region. In furtherance of our commitment to […]

OVERVIEW OF 2020 INCIDENTS Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, in 2020, revealed a continuity from previous years as well as new and emerging trends, particularly regarding the modus operandi of Pirate Action Groups (PAGs). In terms of absolute numbers, the statistics show an almost perfect hyperbola in actual incidents at sea when the years […]

INTRODUCTION Gulf of Guinea (GoG) piracy remains a great concern to the global community asincidents and attacks have continued to soar over the last decade. Although the scale of acts of piracy and maritime criminality generally vary from time to time – in response to states’ actions and the behaviour of the maritime industry to […]

Editor’s Note: On 25th July 2015, two historic events took place at the Headquarters of the Africa Union. The first was the launch of the Decade of African Seas and Oceans (2015-2025). The second was the lunch of the African Day of the Seas and Oceans, which is to be celebrated each year on 25 […]

On 31st August, 2016, news about the economic recession of one of Africa’s largest economies flooded hundreds of media outlets. BBC Business news reported: Nigeria has slipped into recession, with the latest growth figures showing the economy contracted by 2.06% between April and June. While news about Nigeria’s recession disseminated all around the world, the […]

In my most recent publication, I argue that the Gulf of Guinea presents a convolution of opportunities and challenges to the international community. The reasons are apparent in number of paradoxes. While the exploitation of the Gulf’s oil and gas resources can lead to immense socio-economic gains, the resultant gaping governance challenges may far outweigh […]