Ghana has officially declared its first Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Greater Cape Three Points Area, marking a historic milestone in the country’s journey toward sustainable ocean governance in a colorful event hosted by The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA), Fisheries Commission and Hen Mpoano.
The declaration, held at Busua Beach Resort in the Western Region, was led by Her Excellency Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, alongside Hon. Emelia Arthur ( Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture), in a vibrant national event attended by traditional authorities, coastal communities, development partners, and key stakeholders.
Spanning approximately 700 square kilometres and involving 21 coastal communities, the MPA represents the culmination of over two decades of sustained effort. Hen Mpoano played a critical role in supporting the Government of Ghana through extensive community and stakeholder engagement processes that helped bring the MPA to this stage.
From the onset, the MPA process was designed as a bottom-up initiative ensuring that it was not imposed on communities, but developed together with them.
Hen Mpoano worked closely with fishers, traditional leaders, and community members to document local ecological knowledge passed down through generations including insights on fish behaviour, breeding seasons, and critical habitats and combined this with scientific research to inform decision-making.
As noted by Kofi Agbogah, “we made a deliberate choice: that Marine Protected Areas should not be imposed on communities and fishers but be advanced together with them.”
This approach has helped build trust, ownership, and a strong foundation for long-term success.
While the MPA has now been declared, key processes are still ongoing including the participatory selection and zoning of specific areas within the MPA, which will be determined in consultation with the 21 communities.
The MPA is designed as a multiple-use area, balancing conservation with sustainable fishing and livelihood activities.
Supporting systems have already been developed to guide implementation, including governance structures, monitoring frameworks, and the MPA Management Plan Framework with contributions from Hen Mpoano working alongside the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission.
For many coastal community members, the MPA represents hope.
Fishers expressed optimism that, if effectively implemented, the MPA will help restore declining fish stocks reducing the need to travel long distances in search of fish and improving livelihoods.
Beyond fisheries, the initiative also supports broader ecosystem conservation, including mangrove protection and restoration, which play a critical role in coastal resilience, biodiversity, and climate mitigation.
The declaration reflects a collective effort bringing together government leadership, community participation, and sustained support from development partners.
“We are proud to have served as a technical partner, a facilitator of inclusive dialogue and a bridge between science, policy and the communities,” said Mr. Agbogah.
Hen Mpoano extends its sincere appreciation to its donors and partners whose support has been instrumental in advancing this journey over the past two decades.
While the declaration marks a historic achievement, stakeholders are clear: this is only the beginning.
The focus now shifts to implementation ensuring that the MPA delivers on its promise of rebuilding fisheries, protecting marine ecosystems, and securing livelihoods for present and future generations.
As Ghana takes this bold step forward, the success of the MPA will ultimately depend on continued collaboration, community ownership, and sustained commitment.
Photo Gallery
visit ; https://henmpoano.pixieset.com/marineprotectedareaofficialdeclaration/ for more images from the event.
