FoN Ghana

06/08/2026

THE NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT:
HOW MMDAs COULD USE IT TO FIGHT PLASTIC POLLUTION IN OUR CITIES

Parliament has taken an important step in the fight for cleaner communities by passing the Community Service Act, 2026, giving our courts the power to sentence offenders to community service instead of imprisonment for specified offences.

Now, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have a golden opportunity to put this law to work against one of Ghana's biggest environmental problems: plastic littering.

Friends of the Nation's (FoN) audit of waste collected during the recent National Sanitation Day exercise in Sekondi-Takoradi revealed that plastic bottles, sachets, Styrofoam and other single-use plastics formed a significant portion of the debris removed from drains and waterways. These plastics were not just waste; they were a major contributor to the flooding that displaced families and damaged homes across the metropolis.

Unfortunately, Sekondi-Takoradi is not alone. The same story unfolds in Accra and many other cities, where drains clogged with plastic continue to worsen flooding, destroy property and cost lives whenever heavy rains fall.
But the problem doesn't end in our drains.

Every plastic bottle and Styrofoam container washed into our gutters eventually finds its way into rivers and the sea, polluting Ghana's coastline, threatening marine life, and making life even harder for fishing communities. Fishers are increasingly pulling plastic from their nets instead of fish, while dolphins, whales and other marine animals continue to suffer from plastic ingestion and entanglement.

The newly passed Community Service Act presents a practical solution.
Instead of allowing sanitation offences to go unpunished, MMDAs should work with the courts to ensure that people convicted under sanitation by-laws serve community service by cleaning drains, beaches, markets, streets and other public spaces.

Such visible sanctions will not only improve sanitation but also send a strong message that indiscriminate littering has real consequences.

At the same time, Ghana must address the source of the problem. Friends of the Nation renews its call for:
1. A nationwide ban on single-use plastics, including Styrofoam.
2. Greater investment in reusable packaging, especially reusable PET bottle systems.
3. Stronger enforcement of sanitation by-laws by all MMDAs.

The Community Service Act has provided the legal tool. The question now is whether our local authorities will use it to keep our communities clean, reduce flooding, and protect our rivers and oceans.
The time to act is now!

Photo credit: Ghana Boundary Commission & Tano South Assembly



OXFAM in Ghana Fisheries GH NADMO Shama SHAMA DISTRICT ASSEMBLY Sekondi-Takoradi

03/08/2026

29/07/2026

One Year On: Has anything changed after exemption of artisanal fishermen from closed season?

✍🏾 Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu

On June 2025, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development announced it was suspending enforcement of the annual fishing closed season for artisanal fishers across the country’s coastline

29/07/2026

FRIENDS OF THE NATION MARKS WORLD DROWNING PREVENTION DAY 2026 WITH CALL FOR FISHER-FRIENDLY LIFE JACKETS

As the world marks World Drowning Prevention Day 2026, Friends of the Nation (FoN) joins the global call to prevent drowning by calling on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Ghana Maritime Authority, manufacturers of fishing safety equipment, and development partners to work together with Fishersmen to develop life jackets that are comfortable, practical and suitable for the way Ghana's artisanal fishers work at sea.

This year's theme, "Unite to Turn the Tide," reminds us that drowning is preventable through collective action. Although global drowning deaths have declined over the past two decades, an estimated 300,000 people still lose their lives to drowning every year, including approximately 32,000 fishers who die at sea annually.

In Ghana, small-scale fisheries support more than three million people across the fisheries value chain. Yet many fishers continue to venture onto the sea without effective life-saving equipment because the available life jackets, according to fishers engaged by FoN, are uncomfortable and unsuitable for the realities of their fishing operations.

"It’s not that we are reckless! The jackets on the market just don't work for us. They're stiff, get in the way of our nets, so we prefer they stay on the shore! Should we get ones that fits how we actually fish, and I promise you, we'll wear it. Nana Jojo Solomon, National President, Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council stated.

Through the Marine SafeNet Ghana initiative, implemented in partnership with ProSea Marine Education and supported by the International Fund for Fishing Safety, Friends of the Nation continues to work with fishing communities and public institutions to strengthen safety at sea through training, advocacy and practical innovations.

According to the Marine Spatial Planning and Safety Advocacy Officer at Friends of the Nation, Philip Prah, “you can't plan your way around bad equipment. A life jacket that stays either at the shore or in the canoe isn't protecting anyone. It is for this reason Safety equipment must be designed around the realities of fishing. We believe that when fishers are involved in developing these solutions, they are much more likely to wear them, and that is what saves lives."

On this World Drowning Prevention Day, Friends of the Nation calls on:
Government to establish participatory safety standards that reflect the realities of artisanal fishing.

Manufacturers to co-develop with fishersmen affordable, comfortable and functional life jackets designed specifically for fishers.

Development partners to invest in fisher-centred safety innovations.

Fishing associations and community leaders to champion the adoption of appropriate safety equipment.

Every life lost to drowning is one too many. Preventing these deaths requires solutions that are practical, inclusive and developed with the people they are intended to protect.

Nothing for fishers, without fishers.
Fisheries GH ProSea International Labour Organization The Ocean Foundation The Seafarers’ Charity

22/07/2026

STAKEHOLDERS DELIBERATE ON THE FINDINGS OF THE EWOYAA LITHIUM PROJECT CASE STUDY

Friends of the Nation (FoN) convened a stakeholder engagement forum on June 30, 2026, to discuss the findings and recommendations emerging from the Ewoyaa Lithium Project case study.

Discussions focused on addressing identified governance gaps, strengthening community participation, improving compensation and consultation processes, and enhancing environmental and social accountability within the mining sector.

The forum provided an important platform for dialogue and collective action towards responsible and inclusive mineral resource governance.

22/07/2026

Friends of the Nation Launches Ewoyaa Lithium Project Case Study
Friends of the Nation (FoN), on June 29, 2026, officially launched its case study examining community rights, environmental governance, and stakeholder engagement in the Ewoyaa Lithium Project.
The case study highlights key lessons, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening community participation, transparency, accountability, and sustainable mineral governance. Through this evidence-based contribution, FoN seeks to support constructive dialogue and policy reforms that ensure mining delivers equitable benefits while protecting company investments and the rights of affected communities.

20/07/2026

COMMUNITIES VALIDATE FINDINGS IN THE EWOYAA LITHIUM PROJECT CASE STUDY REPORT

Between June 15 and 19, 2026, Friends of the Nation (FoN) facilitated community validation sessions to review and verify information documented on the positives, and areas of improvement in the governance of the pending ewoyaa lithium project.
The Ewoyaa Lithium Project Case Study documented positives or otherwise on community rights, environmental governance, exploratory level compensation issues, ongoing negotiations for compensation, the declaration of moratorium on development in the catchment arwas among others.
Participants assessed and gave their views on those key findings, shared lived experiences, and provided valuable feedback to strengthen the accuracy and credibility of the study.

The validation process reinforced the importance of community voices in shaping evidence-based recommendations that can improve mining governance and safeguard the rights and interests of affected people.

01/07/2026

From Dixcove to Accra, one message echoed loud and clear: Let us listen to fishers’ safety concerns. 🌊🎥🇬🇭

“𝘞𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘫𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺. 𝘔𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘫𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘴. 𝘞𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘴.”
- a passionate call from Emmanuel, [a fisher from Dixcove in the movie], shared during the Dixcove and Accra screenings.

In June, Friends of the Nation and ProSea Marine Education, organized two impactful screenings in Dixcove and Accra, of Lloyd's Register Foundation’s fisher safety documentary, “All That Separates Them Is Distance” (https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=S3_3sKnq_sDDVZMv&v=W_QoaJ9qo7E&feature=youtu.be); a documentary connecting three fishers in different parts of the world sharing real life safety experiences.

In Dixcove, fishers, their families, and community members gathered to watch the film that reflects their own realities, challenges, and resilience. It was more than a screening, it was a moment of reflection, dialogue, and recognition of the people whose lives depend on the sea.

The conversation then continued in Accra, bringing together fisher representatives, government officials, diplomats, NGOs, development partners, and other stakeholders for a thought-provoking screening and discussion on fisher safety, health, and welfare.

Through the support of International Fund for Fishing Safety , global commitments to fisher safety are being translated into practical action within fishing communities, ensuring that fishers’ voices remain at the heart of solutions that affect their lives.

Safe Fishers are Sustainable Fishers.

The Ocean Foundation Fisheries GH Fisheries Committee for the West-Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) Ghana Maritime Authority International Labour Organization

24/06/2026

WHALE WASHES ASHORE AT AKWIDAE

A yet-to-be-identified species of a whale has washed ashore the coastline of Akwidaa, a fishing community in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region, raising calls for urgent scientific assessment to determine the species, and possible cause of death before the whale is buried according to local customs.

Friends of the Nation (FoN) is urging the Fisheries Commission and other relevant authorities to quickly assess and document the whale, identify the species, determine the possible cause of death, and collect any viable biological samples before burial.

Dr. Anita Boateng Ameyaw, Ocean Justice Coordinator at FoN, notes that “every stranding event provides a unique opportunity to learn more about these remarkable marine mammals. When such incidents are not documented before burial, we lose valuable information that could help scientists, fisheries managers, and conservationists better understand and protect cetaceans in Ghana's waters.”

The stranding was reported by FoN's Community Environmental Monitoring and Advocacy Groups (CEMAGs) and confirmed by the Fisheries Technical Officer stationed in Akwidaa. Community members have indicated that traditional rites are being prepared to bury the whale in accordance with local customs.

“This is a sad moment for both the community and our marine environment,” said Donkris Mevuta, Executive Director of Friends of the Nation. “While communities mourn the loss of a creature they hold in high esteem, this event also reminds us of the urgent need to better understand and protect these magnificent animals that share our oceans.”

In many coastal communities in Ghana, whales are regarded as sacred creatures and messengers of the sea. Their stranding is often viewed as a significant event that deserves respect and customary observance.

Beyond its cultural significance, the incident presents an important scientific opportunity. Friends of the Nation, the University of Cape Coast, and the Fisheries Commission are implementing Ghana's first national real-time cetacean bycatch, directed catch, and stranding database https://cetadata.ucc.edu.gh/ (CETADATABASE), which supports marine conservation, fisheries management, and evidence-based policymaking.

As Akwidaa prepares to bid farewell to this revered visitor from the deep, the incident serves as a reminder that every whale matters, every stranding matters, and every opportunity to learn can contribute to a healthier future for Ghana's oceans. Fisheries GH Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana Centre for Coastal Management - University of Cape Coast Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences, University of Cape Coast

11/06/2026

As we reflect on World Oceans Day, may we pay attention to safety concerns of small-scale fishers!