general information
Estimate Nominal GDP
(2024) $ 75.5 billion
Estimate GDP from the Ocean Economy
(2024) 4.5% - of total GDP
General Coastline
approximately 550 km
Estimate Population
35 million
Registered In-Country Companies
approximately 97.000
UN Global Compact Participants by April 2025
37
overview
Ghana faces relevant challenges in maritime safety, governance, and infrastructure – such as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing, fragmented regulation, and limited investment. The government is beginning to allocate more resources to the blue economy, showing commitment to long-term development. Opportunities include improving safety in the trawler industry, raising ESG awareness, and embedding international standards. Despite constraints like limited environmental planning and a small maritime sector, strong climate awareness and public-private collaboration offer momentum.
Advancing a Safe and Sustainable Ocean Economy in ghana
The Scoping Phase in Ghana focused on mapping key stakeholders in the maritime sector to assess their awareness and contributions to safety, sustainability, and the green shipping transition. It also examined safety practices and organizational cultures, especially in relation to climate adaptation and resilience.
Several critical challenges emerged: widespread illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing; fragmented legal and administrative frameworks; weak maritime governance; and high financing costs, especially in offshore renewables. Gaps in technology adoption across ports, shipping, aquaculture, and hydrocarbon sectors were also identified. One recurring issue was the lack of a safety culture, exposing workers to preventable accidents. Balancing sustainable marine resource use with social equity and inclusivity remains a key concern.
Despite these obstacles, the assessment uncovered promising opportunities. Many maritime organizations showed strong awareness of climate change, decarbonization, and green transition goals. While some have already implemented basic safety measures, a broader and more consistent safety culture is still lacking.
Addressing these gaps will be essential. Outdated equipment, limited training, weak enforcement of regulations, and slow adoption of modern safety technologies were found across various industries, including fisheries, shipyards, and dry docks. Financial constraints continue to hinder improvements.
Yet, momentum for progress exists. Ghana can benefit from embedding safety into national strategies, introducing international standards into local legislation, and investing in eco-safe infrastructure and new maritime technologies. These shifts will help mitigate risk while unlocking economic growth—such as through biofuel development and maritime tech hubs.
The priorities of ghana’s Ocean Centres across the four Action Areas are ranked as follows:
1
Shipping &
Ports
2
Fishing & Aquaculture
3
Finance &
Investment
4
Offshore
Renewables
At the national level, the initiative aims to strengthen maritime safety, reduce accidents, and foster a culture of prevention. These improvements will enhance operational efficiency, sustainability, and regulatory compliance—supporting Ghana’s broader blue economy agenda.
Collectively, the Ocean Centres initiative will lay the groundwork for embedding safety across Ghana’s maritime sectors while enabling the integration of technologies such as AI, IoT, and data analytics. In doing so, it will advance both local and global goals for a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable ocean economy.
We believe that, at a global level, the Ocean Centres initiative will strengthen food security, port efficiency, clean energy development, and biodiversity protection. As hubs for sustainable ocean stewardship, they will drive long-term economic and environmental benefits through collaboration, innovation, and investment.
OCEAN CENTRES, ghana
local guidances
Shipping & Ports
Ghana’s potential as a maritime logistics hub for West Africa by Dr David King Boison and Iddrisu Awudu
Rethinking Ghana’s Port Strategy – The untapped goldmine for economic transformation by Dr David King Boison, Albert Derrick Fiatui and Iddrisu Awudu
Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, National Commission On Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) Commit to Working Closely to Tighten Security at the Country’s Entry Points by GPHA
Fishing & Aquaculture
Integrating Asafo Companies for Sustainable Ocean and Coastal Heritage Management in Ghana by John Windie Ansah,George Yaa Oduro & Rosabelle Bosswell
Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture Policies in Ghana - Technical Report by Everisto Mapedza, Marie-Charlotte Buisson,Giulia Zane,Sarah Appiah,Ruby Asmah,Lawrence Ahiah and Emmanuel Mensah
Offshore Renewables
Maritime safety and pollution prevention in Ghana : a review of view of implementation and enforcement of international conventions by Moses Kwadzo Beick-Baffour
An Overview of Scientific Production of Renewable Energies in Ghana by Mohammed Takase& Rogers Kipkoech
Opportunities and challenges in Ghana's renewable energy sector by Rogers Kipkoech Ronoh,Mohammed Augustine Takase,Arcadius Martinien Agassin Ahogle & Gordon Ocholla
Renewable Energies in Ghana in Relation to Market Condition, the Environment, and Food Security by Rogers Kipkoech, Mohammed Takase & Ernest Kofi Amankwa Afrifa
Climate Change and the Viability of Renewable Energy in Ghana by Caleb Mensah
Dealing with social acceptance: The strategies of offshore petroleum extraction companies and stakeholder attitudes in Ghana by Moses Adjei
Finance & Investment
Ocean Finance: A pathway to economic resilience in Ghana by Dr. David King Boison
Mobilizing collective action for a sustainable ocean economy by Angela Lusiga
local Events
List of Services
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Blue Invest Africa distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of BlueInvest Africa 2024. GhanaBlue Invest Africa distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of BlueInvest Africa 2024.
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International Maritime Exhibition & Conference GhanaInternational Maritime Exhibition & Conference
