The European Union, Ghana’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Secretariat of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), jointly launched the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) to enhance the sustainable and integrated use of ocean resources in West Africa.
 
WASOP, a €59 million European Union-funded four-year project, will cover 13 ECOWAS countries, including the six FCWC member countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo), to promote a sustainable blue economy as the future of Africa and facilitate an integrated approach focused on local economy growth and ocean governance, while preserving marine and coastal ecosystems.
 
At the launch ceremony held in the artisanal canoe basin in Ghana’s major coastal town, Tema, the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Rune Skinnebach stated, “Ghana has taken an important step forward with the passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, the bigger fish now is implementation. This project, building on the successes and lessons of the EU-funded Improved Regional Fisheries Governance in West Africa (PESCAO) project, strengthens our shared commitment with Ghana to protect and grow the marine economy and to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The EU is honoured to collaborate once again with FCWC, and we look forward to the positive impact this project will deliver.”
 
The Secretary-General of FCWC, Dr Gaston Antoine Djihinto, stated, “Without coordinated, urgent and structured action, we risk reaching a point of no return. The WASOP programme is not just a fisheries programme. It is a shared vision for a sustainable future”.
 
In her remarks, the Hon. Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur (MP) welcomed the initiative, describing it as “a timely and strategic step in advancing Ghana’s fisheries.” She emphasized that “the programme is closely aligned with the government’s ongoing commitment to responsibly and sustainably utilise marine and coastal resources to drive inclusive economic growth, enhance food security, create jobs and strengthen environmental resilience.” According to her, “through WASOP, Ghana will benefit from strengthened institutional capacity, innovative pilot projects and enhanced regional collaboration to combat marine pollution, promote sustainable aquaculture, improve port and coastal management and build climate-smart livelihoods.” Hon. Arthur reiterated Government’s commitment to working closely with the European Union, ECOWAS and all stakeholders to ensure that the objectives of WASOP meaningfully support the implementation of Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture policies and strategies.
 
WASOP is a multifaceted initiative aiming to tackle critical issues such as combating IUU fishing, advancing ocean policy improvement, and nurturing partnerships at a regional and international level. By establishing these robust frameworks, the program is poised to significantly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create an environment where cooperation and economic growth go hand-in-hand with ecological preservation.
 
The European Union has a long-standing history of collaboration with Ghana in areas including sustainable fisheries management and capacity-building initiatives. The WASOP project will leverage the lessons from past initiatives like PESCAO and foster new synergies across international, national, and local platforms, enhancing efforts to make West Africa a beacon of sustainable development. The launch ceremony will be followed by a meeting of a joint working group comprising Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) representatives from the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the FCWC Member States to prepare toward the joint patrols activities that are planned during the implementation of the project.