Ghana is set to present its Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP) policy framework to the United Nations General Assembly by September 24, 2025.

The plan aims to guide the sustainable production of ocean wealth while maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems and promoting equitable exploitation of ocean resources for coastal communities.

Ebenezer Appah Sampong, Ghana’s National Coordinator for SOP, in a media interview during a national validation workshop in Accra, on Friday, said Ghana required political will and financial investment to implement the stakeholders’ recommendations.

The workshop was organised by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advisory Unit of the Office of the President.

Sampong said Ghana started collating views on the SOP in 2023 and highlighted key components of Ghana’s Sustainable Ocean Plan, including ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources such as fisheries, aquaculture, and ecotourism, as well as oil and gas resources.

He believed that maintaining the health and productivity of ocean ecosystems would support biodiversity and ecosystem services.

“Promoting equitable access to ocean resources for coastal communities and ensuring that benefits are shared inclusively,” Sampong emphasised.

He said the potential inclusion of marine protected areas to conserve critical habitats and biodiversity.

“It is also critical in Integrating climate change considerations into ocean management to enhance resilience and adaptability,” he added.

Sampong underscored the need for strong commitment from policymakers to support the implementation of the SOP.

He said it was imperative to securing sufficient funding to implement stakeholders’ recommendations and achieve sustainable ocean management goals.

The United Nations has set a goal for countries to sustainably manage 30% of ocean resources by 2030 and 100 percent in 2050.

Ghana’s SOP aligns with this global objective, emphasizing the importance of integrated ocean management and sustainable practices.