Illegal foreign ships cost Ghana US$200m
The nation is facing significant economic losses, estimated at around USD200 million, due to foreign ships operating illegally within the country’s maritime borders under legal cover. Authorities are intensifying efforts to combat crime along the nation’s shipping routes, which remain vulnerable to piracy and other illicit activities.
Ms Emmanuelle Lécuyer, Public Diplomacy and Visibility Officer for the European Union-Enhanced Maritime Action in the Gulf of Guinea (EnMAR), highlighted the critical importance of the maritime sector to Ghana’s economy.
She revealed that in 2022, Ghanaian authorities intercepted approximately 60 kilogrammes of illegal drugs along these shipping routes, underscoring ongoing security challenges.
The maritime sector accounts for about 80 per cent of Ghana’s trade and generates roughly one billion dollars annually, making its security and sustainability vital for the nation’s economic prosperity, Ms Lécuyer added.
Her remarks came during a three-day intensive training for journalists organised by the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute (GoGMI) under the EnMAR project.
The training, funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France, aims to equip journalists with the knowledge and tools to effectively report on complex maritime issues, fostering informed public discourse and policy advocacy.
Ms Lécuyer emphasised the environmental pressures from shipping and coastal activities, which continue to threaten maritime ecosystems, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of local fishing communities. She also called on stakeholders to take urgent action to address these challenges.
