The Marine SafeNet Ghana Project is emerging as a transformative initiative in Ghana’s fisheries sector, combining technology, education, and safety systems to protect fishers while boosting the economic resilience of coastal communities.
Led by Friends of the Nation (FoN) in partnership with ProSea Marine Education and funded by the International Fund for Fishing Safety, the project targets small-scale fishers who contribute significantly to Ghana’s economy.
The fisheries sector supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods, generates foreign exchange, and underpins food security, yet remains vulnerable to accidents and fatalities at sea.
“Thousands of fishers risk their lives daily for survival and business, but the same sea that sustains them can also be deadly,” said Mr Phillip Prah, Project Officer at Friends of the Nation. “Marine SafeNet Ghana equips fishers with knowledge, tools, and communication systems to respond effectively to emergencies, protecting both lives and livelihoods.”
Global statistics indicate that approximately 32,000 fishers die annually, with many lacking basic safety training.
By addressing these gaps, the project is not only saving lives but also safeguarding economic productivity in coastal communities, where fishing is a primary income source.
The initiative operates on three pillars: protecting fishers, safeguarding their families, and preserving the marine environment.
This includes awareness campaigns, incident reporting systems, and deployment of innovative safety technologies that enable rapid distress response.
At the core of the project is a solar-powered distress alert device installed on fishing canoes. The device allows fishers to send SOS signals, track locations, access weather updates, and communicate with emergency contacts even beyond mobile network coverage.
Features such as automatic capsize detection, geofencing alerts, and canoe-to-canoe emergency communication ensure timely interventions and minimize losses.
Pilot testing in select coastal communities has demonstrated measurable improvements in response times, enhanced fisher confidence, and reduced economic losses from accidents.
“The system has already been deployed on 10 canoes, with plans for nationwide expansion,” Mr Prah noted.
From a business perspective, the technology presents opportunities for private sector investment, manufacturing, and service provision.
However, cost remains a challenge: each device is priced between GH¢7,000 and GH¢7,500, with a monthly subscription fee of GH¢200.
Mr Prah emphasised the need for government incentives, stakeholder collaboration, and flexible financing models to ensure broad adoption and economic sustainability.
“If you think safety is expensive, try an accident,” he said, highlighting the potential financial and human costs of neglect.
The project aligns with Ghana’s fisheries legislation, which mandates safety equipment, communication systems, and monitoring devices as part of licensing requirements, creating a regulatory framework that supports private sector participation.
Mr Simon Okoe Kwao, a fisherman from Lekpongunor Fishing Community in the Ningo-Prampram District, shared that the device had already facilitated a timely rescue of a stranded canoe, transforming initial scepticism into strong support.
By integrating modern safety solutions with community engagement, the Marine SafeNet Ghana Project not only saves lives but also strengthens the economic and business potential of the country’s fisheries sector, offering a model for scaling technology-driven solutions across West Africa.
