FoN Ghana

19/12/2025

Friends of the Nation (FoN) participated in a non-state actors’ engagement towards the establishment of Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area (MPA) at the Greater Cape Three Points Area.

The engagement forms part of a coordinated and inclusive process to ensure broad stakeholder participation in the MPA initiative, which received Cabinet approval in October 2025. When effectively managed, the proposed MPA will support the recovery of fish stocks, marine habitats, and ecosystems, strengthening long-term fisheries sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

Convened by Hen Mpoano collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission, the session provided space for open dialogue with fishers, traditional authorities, women, the private sector, and civil society organisations on the purpose, benefits, and management of the MPA.

Friends of the Nation welcomes and supports the proposed MPA, following Cabinet approval, as a significant milestone towards marine biodiversity conservation, fisheries stock recovery, and strengthened participatory ocean governance in Ghana.

📸: Hen Mpoano - Our Coast

18/12/2025

Friends of the Nation participated in a high-level consultative meeting on Ghana’s Lithium Agreement, convened by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Accra.

At the meeting, CSOs welcomed government’s decision to withdraw the lithium lease from Parliament for broader consultation; an important step toward transparency and accountability. Key discussions focused on price-based royalties, local capacity building, environmental safeguards, and the need to fully utilize by-products like feldspar to create jobs.

Friends of the Nation used the platform to call for fair compensation for affected communities during mining moratoriums, amendments to LI 2175, and the inclusion of Health Impact Studies as part of permitting conditions.

The Minister showed openness to CSO inputs and called for continued collaboration as the revised agreement is prepared for Parliament.
OXFAM in Ghana Africa Centre for Energy Policy

10/12/2025

Friends of the Nation (FoN) and the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), with support from OXFAM in Ghana convened government institutions, civil society organizations, private sector operators, and community actors for a national learning event focused on strengthening Ghana’s response to methane emissions and advancing climate action. Read more in the link below
https://fonghana.org/stakeholders-share-solutions-for-reducing-methane-emissions-at-national-learning-event/

01/12/2025

Join us as we celebrate the success and impact of our 5 year old Project at its closure event scheduled for 1st December 2025 at 9:30am here on Facebook or our You Tube channel.

Media Foundation for West Africa(MFWA)
Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives - PARDA
Africa Centre for Energy Policy
Africa Education Watch
SEND GHANA
FoN Ghana
Norsaac
Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG)
Shea Network - Ghana
Viamo - Digital Made Easy
Tungteiya Womens' Association
Widows and Orphans Movement - WOM
Women in Law and Development in Africa - Wildaf Ghana
Songtaba
WANEP-Ghana
Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA)
YEFL-Ghana
BudgIT Ghana
Oxfam Novib
Oxfam Kenya
International Budget Partnership
Oxfam in Africa

21/11/2025

WORLD FISHERIES DAY 25
As we mark World Fisheries Day 2025, we join the global community in recognizing the vital role fisheries play in food security, employment, local economies, cultural heritage, and the sustainable blue economy. We celebrate the bravery and dedication of fish harvesters and fish workers who toil tirelessly to provide for their families and communities.

However, we also acknowledge the harsh realities of fishing, which is one of the world's most hazardous occupations. Every day, 88 fishers perish at sea, totaling over 32,000 annually (FAO/ILO, 2022). In Ghana, small-scale fishers face immense challenges, from treacherous seas to limited access to resources and climate change vulnerability.

Today, we pledge to rewrite the narrative from loss to safety and hope. Let's work together to ensure every fisher returns home safely. This requires a culture of safety consciousness within fishing communities, where fishers and regulators collaborate to make sea safety a shared responsibility.

Fisheries leaders must lead by example, canoe owners must prioritize seaworthy vessels and crew safety, and fishers must take personal responsibility for safe practices at sea. Together, we can save lives, protect livelihoods, and preserve our marine resources.

Let's recognize safety as a collective responsibility, a shared priority that benefits all. By working together, we can improve safety, labor rights, and wellbeing for Ghana's fishers. Join us in making safety a top priority. Every canoe returns, every crew member comes home alive, and every family is protected.
Fisheries GHOXFAM in GhanaMinistry of Food and Agriculture, GhanaHen Mpoano - Our Coast

10/11/2025

Fishers from Axim, Dixcove, Shama, Abandze, Lekpongunor, and Vodza shared emotional firsthand accounts of the risks they face daily, including rough weather, engine failures, fatigue, fires, and drowning hazards. Their stories highlighted the urgency of improving safety measures in the artisanal fishing industry.

In a bid to enhance public understanding of safety standards in Ghana’s artisanal fisheries sector, the Marine SafeNet Ghana Project, a partnership between Friends of the Nation (FoN) and ProSea Marine Education, with funding from the International Fund for Fishing Safety, has organized a one-day ...

19/09/2025

FoN Ghana and ProSea, under the Marine SafeNet Ghana Project, engaged with the Deputy Executive Director (General Services), Officers from Marine Fisheries Management Division, Inland Fisheries Management Division, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), etc. of the Fisheries Commission, at its headquarters in Accra.

This consultative meeting was a follow-up to earlier engagements, focusing on safety and sustainability in Ghana’s small-scale fisheries.

👉 Highlights from the meeting:
✅ Discussions of the Marine SafeNet Ghana Project; a collaborative effort to improve safety, labour rights, and wellbeing of small-scale fishers in Ghana.
✅ Presentation of a draft safety incident reporting form to make it easier for fisherfolk to report accidents, near misses, and safety issues.

The Fisheries Commission welcomed this initiative and agreed to review the reporting form and share feedback soon.

The Marine SafeNet Ghana Project is funded by the International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS) and implemented by ProSea and Friends of the Nation, with support from Fisher Associations (GNCFC & CaFGOAG). It is being piloted in Axim, Dixcove, and Shama in the Western Region.

Together, we are working towards a safer, more sustainable future for our fisherfolk. 🌊⚓️🛟

Ghana Maritime Authority International Labour Organization The Seafarers’ Charity OXFAM in Ghana Fisheries Committee for the West-Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) Environmental Protection Authority, Ghana SHAMA DISTRICT ASSEMBLY Shama District Assembly

17/09/2025

Friends of the Nation with support from OXFAM in Ghana, through the Methane Advocacy project has successfully convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue on methane management in Ghana, bringing together key stakeholders from government, civil society, the oil and gas industry, academia, and the media. The dialogue focused on sharing best practices for methane reduction, reviewing Ghana’s Draft Methane Roadmap, and discussing the health, climate, and socio-economic impacts of methane a potent short-lived climate pollutant. Insights from participants enriched the dialogue, highlighting the need for inclusive, community-informed strategies especially regarding the role of district assemblies in managing plastic waste, and oil and gas companies managing methane emissions. As Ghana advances its commitments under the Global Methane Pledge, multi-stakeholder dialogues as this are vital to ensure that methane policies are effective, equitable, and rooted in environmental justice.

17/09/2025

A contribution towards responsible and sustainable artisanal and small-scale mining in Ghana

OXFAM in Ghana
Women in Law and Development in Africa - Wildaf Ghana
SEND GHANA
Africa Centre for Energy Policy
Wacam
Environmental Protection Authority, Ghana

By Emelia B. Addae Akim Oda (E/R), Sept. 10, GNA – Friends of the Nation (FoN), in collaboration with Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), has…

21/08/2025

A major step forward for Ghana’s fisheries sector! 🇬🇭
President Mahama has assented to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill into Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2025, Act 1146, introducing:

🔹 Stronger sanctions against IUU fishing.
🔹 Enhanced safety & protection for fishers.
🔹 Measures to secure livelihoods and protect marine resources.
🔹Stronger Will to extend the Inshore Exclusive Zone.

20/08/2025

ProSea

04/08/2025

Marine SafeNet Ghana Champions Fishers’ Safety Through New Training Module

In Takoradi, fishers, regulators, and community leaders came together to review a draft Fishers’ Safety Training Module under the Marine SafeNet Ghana Project, a collaborative initiative led by Friends of the Nation (FoN) and ProSea Marine Education, with support from the International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS).

The workshop brought together fishing crew members, chief fishermen from the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), canoe owners from the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CAFGOAG), and fish processors and traders from NAFPTA, alongside key regulatory agencies including the Fisheries Commission, Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and the Ghana National Fire Service.

It reflected a bottom-up approach where fishers and regulators work hand in hand to build safer, healthier, and more sustainable fisheries.

“Safety First. Safety Always. Safety, it’s all about you,” declared Donkris Mevuta, Executive Director of Friends of the Nation, emphasizing the urgency of safety training and assuring participants of a safer ocean ahead.

He reminded fishers that safety is not just about rules and equipment, but about responsibilities: chief fishermen are expected to lead safe practices at the landing beaches; canoe owners must ensure their canoes are seaworthy and support crew safety; and fishers themselves must take personal responsibility for safe practices at sea.

He added, “This training module, co-developed with fishers rather than for fishers, is a step toward lasting behavioral change, so every canoe returns, every crew member comes home alive, and every family is protected.”

Fishing, he noted, remains one of the world’s most dangerous jobs, with 88 fishers lost at sea every single day, over 32,000 annually (FAO/ILO, 2022).
Adding his voice, Nana Jojo Solomon, President of the GNCFC, called for closer collaboration between fishers and regulators to make sea safety a shared responsibility:

“When fishers and regulators work together, we save lives, protect livelihoods, and ensure our marine resources are managed responsibly.”

The training module draws directly from fishers’ experiences and covers community safety and response, canoe and equipment safety, personal health and safety, and understanding of the marine environment for safer operations.

Participants strongly endorsed the approach and recommended including indigenous knowledge and experienced fishers as facilitators to make the training practical and relevant.

The module will be piloted in Axim, Shama, and Dixcove, equipping artisanal fishers with life-saving skills while advancing Ghana’s leadership in small-scale fisheries safety.
Join the movement to keep fishers safe and ensure a safer ocean ahead.