Minister leads final push to gazette MPA, Hen Mpoano’s decade of work in motion.
Ghana’s journey toward establishing its first official Marine Protected Area (MPA) has taken a major step forward. Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, recently visited 20 coastal communities on a 3-day working tour in the Western Region to engage fishers and residents on the upcoming gazettement of the MPA in the Greater Cape Three Points area. Her visit was aimed at ensuring that local people understand the purpose of the MPA and are ready to support its implementation.
But what exactly is an MPA?
A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a section of the ocean or coast that is specially managed to protect marine life, fish habitats, and important ecosystems like mangroves, estuaries, and coral reefs. MPAs are not “no-go zones” rather, they are co-managed spaces where harmful activities like illegal fishing are restricted, while allowing for responsible fishing, conservation, and tourism. Over time, MPAs help fish populations to recover, support livelihoods, and build resilience against climate change.
“Scientific research has shown that the Greater Cape Three Points area and the Volta Estuary are the most suitable locations in Ghana for MPAs,” Hon. Emelia Arthur explained. “Now that we are close to gazettement, it is important we engage the people who will be most affected the fishers, processors, and coastal communities.”
During her tour, the Minister was accompanied by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ahanta West Ebenezer Aidoo and members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) working on the MPA. Community meetings provided space for dialogue, questions, and clarifications. Residents expressed both excitement and concern but the Minister reassured them that the MPA would be co-managed, with their voices and needs taken into account.
She also used the opportunity to caution fishers about the continued threat of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, particularly within future MPA zones. While there was no closed fishing season for artisanal fishers this year, Hon. Arthur encouraged communities to strictly observe their traditional fishing holidays and avoid harmful practices like light fishing, chemical use, or using small-mesh nets.
“If we find that IUU fishing continues and self-regulation is low, the Ministry will have no choice but to bring back the closed season next year,” she warned. “Let’s all do our part.”
For Hen Mpoano, the visit marks a turning point. The organization, which has spent more than a decade working with communities, scientists, and government agencies to advocate for MPAs, welcomed the Minister’s physical presence and her willingness to listen firsthand.
“This is the clearest sign yet that our years of collaboration and groundwork are paying off,” said a representative of Hen Mpoano. “It’s not just policy on paper anymore. Seeing the Minister go from community to community, meeting with fishers and women processors, shows that the future of Ghana’s fisheries is being built from the ground up.”
Hen Mpoano has been a lead technical partner under a series of projects that have been supporting local awareness, ecological assessments, community planning sessions, and stakeholder mapping for the MPA process.
Community members who participated in the engagements expressed appreciation for the transparent approach. Many said they now better understand how MPAs can improve fish catches, reduce conflicts, and protect future generations’ livelihoods.
With gazettement drawing closer, Ghana’s first MPA in the Greater Cape Three Points area is no longer just a concept it’s becoming a reality, rooted in science, policy, and the power of community.
written by Doe Bona-Mensah
