The Role of the Blue Economy in National Development: A Case of Ghana

Abstract

This assessment paper give emphasis to the contributions of the blue economy to national development. It stresses the point that the blue economy has great impact on a nation's development. This actually explains why recent governments of various countries has given much attention and focus on their marine boundaries expecting to use it among others, as a mechanism of safe guarding their territorial waters with consequential hope of discovering natural minerals like oil which will help in enhancing the national resources used in developing the lives of their citizenry in terms of standard of living and the general development of the nation. This is because, the blue economy, in the life of a nation, provides great advantage in terms of the economic development of that country and a great disadvantage to the land lock nations at the back-dropped of the fact that the blue economy has long been an economic force to reckon with. It is also used by nations as the force and wall of their national defense and it has been observed that it plays major role in the international trade of the country. Looking at the blue economy in this perspective demands for proper attention from central government, traditional authorities, and the public and local governments to make sure that, this God-given treasure do not become a national curse but would be put to efficient use to produce the anticipated results, which will encourage national development. As valuable as it is, the blue economy is being muddled up in Ghana as the resource suffers from pollution as a result of scientific fishing, pollution by the public and by illegal miners and these calls for the need for better ocean governance. This study intends to achieve the following objectives; first is to determine the role and benefit of the blue economy in national development, to identify some challenges faced in the management of the blue economy of Ghana and to determine and make effective recommendations that would aid to reduce or mitigate the challenges faced by the blue economy. To achieve the objectives slated for this paper, review of secondary data from documented reports and the internet, publications, journals and articles were used. The primary data was an in-depth guided interview with key informants (fishing folk, oil and gas officers, port management and shipping officers etc.) and observation of events relating to the sea. To make the nation derive maximum dividends from the blue economy, valuable recommendations were offered.