What is at issue:
In order to enhance marine and coastal protection in Ghana, we intend to establish a Coastal and Marine Conservation Drive Project (COMADRIP) in the Western Region of Ghana. The project will create a pilot site for the design and development of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) management strategy for the Greater Cape Three Points area that can feed into the national process for coastal conservation in Ghana.
COMADRIP in collaboration with local communities, NGOs, and state actors will promote local economic development, nature protection and will contribute to the achievement of the following sustainable development goals (SDGs):
1 (reduce poverty),
2 (reduce hunger),
8 (decent work and economic growth) and
14 (life below water).
The project will work with local communities to conserve critical coastal habitats and promote coastal livelihoods in the selected fishing communities involved. It will also contribute to important policy outcomes on MPAs at the local and national scale.
The institutional involvement provides excellent conditions for sustainability. The project will be coordinated by the Centre for Coastal Management (the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience) at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. It will partner with civil society organizations including Hen Mpoano and other important state actors such as the Forestry Commission of Ghana.