SDG Advisory Unit, NDPC engage public on sustainable ocean plan 

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Advisory Unit and the National Development Planning Commission have engaged stakeholders in Anloga and Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, on sustainable ocean plan (SOP), to safeguard the water bodies. 

The engagement was also aimed to enhance and build knowledge to foster ocean literacy to strengthen collaboration with coastal communities through the use of local ideas and knowledge. 

Mr Ebenezer Sarpong, the National Coordinator for Sustainable Ocean Plan, during the workshop at Tegbi in the Anloga district, said the SOP was integrated into the existing national development planning and budgeting process without setting up parallel structures. 

“To approach the implementation of the SOP, there will be integrated action in Municipal and District Assembly and MMDs,” he said. 

Mr Sarpong said that strategic actions such as creation of a blue finance regulatory framework, provision of Tax Incentive for sustainable ocean investments, deepen private sector participation, and enhancing of risk mitigation mechanisms to boost investor confidence, would be implemented to promote capacity building and finance literacy to develop blue economy infrastructure. 

He said human resource and technological capacities such as marine science and security, ocean governance, inadequate access to modern technology, absence of an integrated marine data platform and outdated and incompetent data would be attended to. 

This would help in restoring and sustaining healthy marine ecosystem strategies, including the reduction of plastic and solid waste pollution, management of nutrients and heavy metal population, as well as the elimination of persistent organic pollution (POPs).  

“Other strategic actions are to help prevent pollution from port, shipping and offshore operations, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate change effects as well as restore degraded wetlands,” he added.  

Mr Gideon Agbanu, a member of the SDG Advisory Unit, told the Ghana News Agency, that implementations would create a thriving and resilient ocean economy that drive inclusive socio-economic growth, while safeguarding the integrity of coastal and marine ecosystem.  

He explained that the move would further ensure transparent and responsible business practices, equity engagement with women, respect the interest of coastal community and inclusive governance. 

He said some strategic pillars and action were to utilize ocean resources sustainably, restore and sustain healthy marine ecosystem, enhance ocean knowledge and literacy, inclusion and equity, blue financing and ensure safe and secure condition at sea for all. 

Mr Agbanu said Ghana had the opportunity in marine or coastal environment in sustaining Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Marine and coastal-based tourism, ocean-based renewable energy, leveraging international partnership and funding and technology and knowledge transfer. 

He said some minimum conditions for success included effective local and international partnership, collaboration with regional and global ocean governance platform, support knowledge exchange and alignment with international commitment among others. 

Some participants including chiefs who spoke to the GNA expressed excitement over the engagement and urged government to help resolve some of the challenges posed by the devastating tidal waves along the coast. 

They expressed readiness to work with the organisations for the improvement and progress of the communities in the area. 

Source: GNA