Ghana Deepens Commitment to Maritime Security and Fisheries Protection at IMDEC 2025

Accra, Ghana – 8 July 2025, Ghana underscores its dedication to strengthening maritime security and promoting sustainable ocean governance at the official opening of the 4th International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEC) held at the Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters, Burma Camp in Accra.
This year’s IMDEC, with the theme “Securing Africa’s Maritime Future: Collaboration, Technology and Sustainability in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape,” brought together high-level officials, defence leaders, maritime stakeholders, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond.
Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, delivered the keynote address and emphasized the critical role of innovation and collaboration in safeguarding Ghana’s marine resources. She noted that the Ministry is actively adopting advanced surveillance and monitoring technologies, including Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), Electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability (e-CDT), and the Automatic Identification System (AIS), to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“This conference is not only a celebration of maritime advancement but also a platform to align our national blue economy strategies with broader continental frameworks such as the African Union’s 2050 AIM Strategy and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” Hon. Arthur stated.
The Minister also highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing legal reforms to enhance fisheries enforcement, its collaboration with the Ghana Navy and regional bodies like the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), and the importance of joint patrols in protecting Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
In her remarks, she commended the Ghana Navy as a strategic partner and underscored the impact of joint operations and capacity building in deterring IUU fishing activities. She also stressed the importance of acquiring additional patrol vessels, improving prosecution capacity, and fostering regional cooperation through ECOWAS and ATLAFCO.
The opening ceremony featured a welcome address by Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, Chief of the Naval Staff, and a keynote speech by Hon. Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic of Ghana.

Fisheries GH

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