Ghana has launched activities to support implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement following its ratification of the global treaty.
The initiative is expected to strengthen institutional capacity, policy alignment and stakeholder engagement to support conservation and the sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.
The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched the Enabling Activities for the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (EA-BBNJ) Project at an inception meeting in Accra on Tuesday with funding support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The project is being implemented under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and is intended to strengthen Ghana’s preparedness to implement the treaty.
Madam Suweibatu Adam, Chief Director of MEST, said the project marked an important step in advancing a coordinated national approach to ocean governance following Ghana’s ratification of the agreement.
She said it complemented Ghana’s ongoing biodiversity conservation initiatives, including implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the review of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the establishment of the country’s first Marine Protected Area and efforts to strengthen marine and coastal governance.
“This project complements these national priorities by helping us prepare for the effective implementation of the BBNJ Treaty through institutional strengthening, stakeholder engagement, capacity development, policy and legislative alignment, and increased public awareness,” she said.
Madam Adam said although Ghana’s jurisdiction did not extend to areas beyond national jurisdiction, the country had a significant interest in the health of the global ocean and stood to benefit from effective participation in global ocean governance.
She urged stakeholders to draw on the knowledge, tools and partnerships available through the project to build a shared understanding of its objectives, expected results and implementation approach.
“The success of this project will depend on the active participation and collective expertise of all institutions represented here… As we commence this journey together, let us embrace the spirit of partnership, innovation and shared responsibility,” she encouraged.
In remarks delivered on his behalf, Dr Abdul Razak Saeed, Environment and Climate Team Lead at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement became a legally binding treaty after entering into force in January 2026.
He said the project would support Ghana in strengthening institutional capacity, stakeholder engagement and policy alignment for effective implementation of the agreement.
Dr Saeed congratulated the Government of Ghana on ratifying the agreement, describing it as a demonstration of the country’s commitment to strengthening international ocean governance and advancing the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
He said the agreement’s impact would depend on how effectively countries translated their commitments into action and called for coordinated governance, strategic partnerships and sustained collaboration to ensure successful implementation.