On 17 January 2026, the international community marked a historic milestone for the global ocean with the entry into force of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), widely known as the High Seas Treaty.
This agreement is the result of nearly 20 years of negotiations initiated to address regulatory gaps under the Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Adopted by consensus in 2023 after five rounds of intensive negotiations and following the deposit of the 60th instrument of ratification and completion of the mandatory 120-day period, it now establishes a legally binding framework to govern nearly half of the world’s ocean space beyond the jurisdiction of any single State.
For the first time, States have a comprehensive mechanism to create marine protected areas on the High Seas, implement science-based environmental assessments, and ensure equitable benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources. These provisions directly support international efforts to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.
While I was the Deputy Presiding Officer of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) from 2014-2017, I had the privilege of supporting efforts to consolidate a coherent African position that reflected both the continent’s developmental aspirations and its stewardship responsibilities.
This engagement helped reinforce the principle that global ocean governance must not reproduce historical asymmetries in access to knowledge, finance, and innovation, but instead serve as a vehicle for inclusive and sustainable development.
The resulting treaty, while global in scope, carries within it a distinctly multilateral and equity-oriented ethos, one that aligns with Africa’s call for a rules-based system that recognizes differentiated capacities and shared, but not equal, responsibilities.
From Global Commitments to National Strategy: Ghana’s Sustainable Ocean Vision
For Ghana, the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty should not be seen merely as a diplomatic milestone; it should present us with a strategic opportunity to align international commitments with domestic economic transformation.
As a coastal nation with a growing population and an expanding maritime domain, Ghana’s development trajectory should be increasingly linked to how effectively it governs and invests in its ocean and coastal resources.
The African Blue Economy generated an estimated US$300 billion and supported approximately 49 million jobs in 2018 (World Bank, 2022), underscoring its potential as a driver of inclusive growth. Yet, unlocking this potential requires more than sectoral expansion; it demands governance reforms that integrate environmental sustainability, economic competitiveness, and social equity.
Ghana’s recently launched Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP) provides a comprehensive policy framework for this transition. Structured around six interdependent pillars: ocean wealth, ocean health, ocean knowledge, ocean equity, ocean finance, and maritime security, the SOP articulates a vision of 100 per cent sustainable ocean governance.
It reflects the Ocean Panel’s Transformations Agenda and positions Ghana to translate global legal instruments, including the BBNJ Agreement, into concrete national action.
As H.E. President John Dramani Mahama emphasizes, the SOP is central to resetting the economy, enhancing equitable growth, and promoting sustainable use of marine resources.
Translating this strategic vision into action requires diversifying Ghana’s economy beyond land-based activities and along the marine and coastal belt is critical to achieving sustainable development and delivering smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth nationally, ensuring that maritime sector growth delivers tangible benefits to local communities.
Strategic Opportunities for Ghana’s Blue Economy
By linking the SOP with the High Seas Treaty, Ghana can strengthen its economic competitiveness while advancing environmental sustainability. Particularly, the treaty expands Ghana’s strategic horizon and offers concrete opportunities to:
- Strengthen the conservation of migratory and safeguard transboundary or high seas fish stocks, directly supporting national food security and the long-term viability of the fisheries sector.
- Attract responsible investment in the emerging blue economy sectors, including sustainable maritime transport, offshore renewable energy, and marine biotechnology,
- Position the Volta Economic Corridor as a sustainable inland–coastal trade and logistics backbone, linking high seas governance and marine value chains with low-carbon inland water transport, fisheries value chains, and agro-logistics hubs that connect northern production zones to coastal ports and international markets, and
- Leverage global partnerships and technology transfer to enhance national ocean research and innovation capacity.
Looking Ahead: Implementation and Leadership
After the Treaty enters into force, the focus shifts to its operational phase. The Preparatory Commission and the first Conference of the Parties (COP) will establish the institutional architecture, financial mechanisms, and compliance procedures that will determine the treaty’s real-world impact.
HATOF Foundation stands ready to support this process by working with national authorities, regional bodies, and civil society to ensure that Ghana’s engagement is informed, strategic, and aligned with continental objectives.
We encourage the Office of the President, through the SDGs Advisory Unit and the Sustainable Ocean Programme, to leverage this moment to embed the treaty’s principles into national policy, regulatory systems, and investment strategies.
We also encourage the government of Ghana to, as part of its forward-looking approach, establish a Maritime Security and Safety Fund to help Ghana’s coastal communities leverage opportunities and manage the risks inherent in scaling up our Blue Economy.
By: Dr. Samuel Dotse
CEO, HATOF Foundation | Laureate of Distinction in Climate Change, Millennium Excellence Awards 2025 | Former Deputy Presiding Officer, African Union ECOSOCC
