Accra: Dr Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah, Country Lead of the UN Global Compact's Ocean Initiative, has announced the establishment of a multi-stakeholder platform by ocean centres to promote ocean safety and sustainability. The initiative aims to foster collaboration among various industry players, including academia, government, and non-governmental organizations, despite the lack of a physical presence for the ocean centres.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Mbiah emphasized during a media engagement organized by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority that the ocean centres will function as virtual hubs. These hubs will create opportunities for stakeholders to exchange ideas, address challenges specific to Ghana's ocean industry, and develop homegrown solutions focused on safety and sustainability.
Dr Mbiah highlighted the importance of localized solutions, noting that challenges faced by Ghana might be unique and require tailored responses. He underscored the necessity of integrating safety considerations into the introduction of new renewable initiatives and addressing issues related to climate change and decarbonization.
He mentioned the impending COP 30 in Brazil and stressed the role of the centres in identifying challenges and seeking solutions, particularly in relation to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He pointed out the significance of blue finance in maintaining sustainable oceans and the need to address factors deterring investments in this area.
Mr Tolu Kweku Lacroix, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network, Ghana, elaborated on the steps leading to Ghana's selection as one of the seven countries to pilot the ocean centres initiative. He stated that workshops would be conducted to educate various industry sectors about safety, aiming to establish a robust framework for ocean safety and sustainability in Ghana.
The Global Compact Ocean Centre is set to be launched by the United Nations Global Compact Network Ghana, under the auspices of the United Nations Global Compact and the Lloyd's Register Foundation. This initiative follows the global launch at the Third United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, France. The pilot countries include Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and the Philippines.