Ghana has launched a major fisheries governance reform initiative to strengthen enforcement, improve transparency, and advance sustainable management of marine resources as part of broader efforts to support the country’s blue economy agenda.
The new multi-stakeholder initiative, the IEZ Enforcement and Transparency Policies Implementation (IEZET) Project, was formally launched by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, at a stakeholder engagement in Accra. The project is expected to run over three years and focuses on tightening regulatory compliance, enhancing institutional coordination, and improving visibility across the fisheries value chain.
Implemented by the Ghana Fisheries Alliance in partnership with Hen Mpoano and the Environmental Justice Foundation, the project is being delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission. Funding support is being provided by the Oak Foundation and Oceans 5.
Key to the initiative is support for the operationalisation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), which authorities say is central to ongoing sector reforms. The programme is expected to strengthen enforcement of the Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ), improve monitoring systems, and enhance what stakeholders described as “enhancing compliance mechanisms” across coastal fishing operations, with a focus on tightening regulatory oversight and improving adherence to fisheries rules.
It also targets broader governance improvements, including “strengthening institutional capacity” within regulatory bodies, improving transparency in market systems, and supporting more inclusive decision-making processes involving fishing communities and sector actors. The initiative further lays groundwork for a proposed National Marine Protected Areas framework, with early interventions planned for sensitive ecosystems such as the Volta Estuary.
Country Director of Global Fisheries and Resilience, Socrates Segbor, said the project is aligned with national priorities under ongoing reforms and reflects a consortium-based approach designed to improve coordination among implementing partners. He highlighted efforts aimed at “deepening sector accountability” and reinforcing collaboration between state and non-state actors in fisheries management.
Minister Emelia Arthur described the launch as a significant milestone in Ghana’s reform agenda, noting that it reflects the government’s commitment to “sustainable resource governance” under the new legal framework. She stressed that while policy direction is now in place, implementation remains critical, calling for sustained collaboration to ensure “effective enforcement outcomes” and long-term recovery of fish stocks.
She also pointed to ongoing regulatory development processes supporting the new Act, expressing optimism about what she described as “steady progress toward a modernised fisheries regime” that balances economic, environmental, and social priorities.
The stakeholder engagement brought together fisheries associations, policymakers, development partners, and academic institutions, all of whom pledged support for improved governance systems and long-term sustainability of Ghana’s marine resources.
