The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, has called for a more equitable, inclusive, and science-driven approach to global ocean governance during the prestigious Neptune Forum held in Paris, France, on June 8, 2026, coinciding with World Oceans Day.
The Neptune Forum, a high-level global gathering convened by Mission Neptune, brought together world leaders, scientists, diplomats, policymakers, economic actors, and ocean advocates to strengthen international cooperation for the sustainable management and preservation of the world’s oceans.
Speaking on the theme, “International Governance in a Fragmented World: Ocean Governance and Ghana’s Perspective,” Hon. Emelia Arthur highlighted the critical role the ocean plays in Ghana’s history, economy, food security, and cultural identity.
She noted that while technological advancements have significantly improved humanity’s understanding of the ocean through real-time vessel monitoring, artificial intelligence, marine data collection, and seabed mapping, major challenges remain. These include declining fish stocks, threats to marine biodiversity, increasing vulnerability of coastal communities, and persistent maritime insecurity.
The Minister emphasized that ocean governance must go beyond resource management and focus on equity, shared responsibility, and sustainable development.
She outlined Ghana’s Blue Economy vision, which integrates sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, marine spatial planning, strengthened monitoring and enforcement systems, and community stewardship within a unified governance framework.
Hon. Arthur further drew attention to the disproportionate challenges faced by developing countries, particularly African coastal states, in combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
She stressed that IUU fishing is not only an environmental concern but also a matter of economic justice, food security, and national sovereignty.
Calling for stronger international partnerships, the Minister advocated increased investment in scientific capacity building, technology transfer, and access to marine data and digital infrastructure.
She argued that Africa must not only consume ocean knowledge but also contribute to its generation and application.
As part of her address, Hon. Arthur proposed five guiding principles for the future of global ocean governance: Equity, Stewardship, Scientific Sovereignty, Recognition of Indigenous Wisdom, and Collective Security.
She concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to building a fairer and more effective system of ocean governance, stating that the ocean can serve as a bridge in a fragmented world when cooperation is founded on fairness, shared responsibility, and respect for the people whose livelihoods depend on the sea.
The Neptune Forum serves as a platform for advancing international dialogue on ocean governance, scientific exploration, climate resilience, and sustainable development, positioning the ocean as a cornerstone of global stability and multilateral cooperation.
