On 14 April 2026, Ghana marked a historic milestone with the declaration of its first Marine Protected Area (MPA) at Busua Beach Resort in the Western Region. At the event, Hen Mpoano Director Kofi Agbogah delivered a compelling address highlighting the journey that led to this moment, the role of communities and partners, and the work that lies ahead.
Below is the full speech delivered at the event.
It is a great honour to stand before you today on behalf of Hen Mpoano on this historic occasion – the declaration of Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area in the Greater Cape Three Points land and marine scapes.
Today marks not just the end of a long journey, but the beginning of a new chapter in how we manage our ocean as a nation.
This achievement belongs to all of us. It reflects the leadership of the Government of Ghana, the wisdom of our traditional authorities, the resilience of our coastal communities, and the commitment of partners who believed that Ghana could take this bold step. We cannot forget the tenacity and fidelity to the MPA course by Hen Mpoano and the coastal communities we are working with.
We at Hen Mpoano are proud to have served as a technical partner, a facilitator of inclusive dialogue and a bridge between science, policy and the communities.
From the outset, we made a deliberate choice: that Marine Protected Area should not be imposed on communities and fishers but be advanced together with them. We worked closely with fishers and community leaders to document local ecological knowledge, passed down through generations – knowledge of fish behaviour, breeding seasons and critical habitats. We supported scientific studies to deepen our understanding of the fish, the seascape, and the seabed.
By combining science and community knowledge, we have built a strong and credible foundation for Ghana’s first MPA.
Declaring the MPA is one thing; making it work is another. That is why we have focused on building systems and partnerships for long-term success. These include supporting: ecological monitoring systems, data collection tools, a dedicated boat for monitoring the MPA, and evidence-based decision-making processes.
Working with the MPA Technical Advisory Committee, we have helped design governance structures and built capacity in Marine biodiversity and ecosystem management; Communications; and Conflict resolution. Hen Mpoano has also contributed to the development of Ghana’s MPA Management Plan Framework, which will guide implementation, post the MPA declaration.
The exhibition panels attest to the depth of our engagements and at the heart of these efforts are the People. Across the 21 communities, we listened, engaged, and built trust. We have supported local champions – men and women who will carry this vision forward.
The success of this MPA will not be determined in Accra but in our coastal communities.
Conservation cannot succeed without livelihoods and that is why we have invested in skills training for the youth; nature-based tourism opportunities and mangrove restoration. These are not just activities; they are pathways to resilience and dignity.
This MPA journey is about inclusion. Hen Mpoano has used a bottom-up approach to: Elevate the role of women in fisheries, Address gender-based violence linked to economic stress, and Promote equitable participation in decision-making around the MPA. This is because a sustainable ocean must also be a just and inclusive ocean.
We have invested in communication and behaviour change and through our collaboration with government, we have developed a national communications strategy and community outreach programs to make marine conservation accessible to all.
Our school children have not been left out. We have caught them young and involved them in ocean literacy. Protecting our ocean is a shared responsibility – policy makers, fisherfolk and community members, including children.
Today, Ghana joins a growing community of nations in taking a bold action to protect our oceans. This step aligns with our global commitments such the 30X30 targets and advancing sustainable blue economies. But more importantly, it sends a message: Ghana is ready to lead, and the real work begins now.
Hen Mpoano will continue to strengthen governance, build capacity and learn from global best practicesincluding supporting exchange visits for community members to countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Senegal for which we will need support to get a few more community members to have a first-hand experience of MPA in practice in those countries.
We remain fully committed to supporting the Government of Ghana and coastal communities in this next phase.
Your Excellency, distinguished guests,
This MPA journey has shown us what is possible when we work together, and together we can: Restore our fisheries; Protect our marine ecosystems; and Secure livelihoods for future generations.
Let this Marine Protected Area declaration be a symbol of hope, leadership, and transformation. Let it stand as a promise – to our people, and to future generations – that we will protect what sustains us.
In closing, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our external partners and supporters, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Oceans 5, Oak Foundation, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, UK International Development, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, and the Governments of Norway, UK and US, as well as our local partners.
Your support has made this MPA journey possible.
I thank you.
Written by Doe Bona-Mensah
