Accra: Ghana has taken a decisive step toward unlocking the full potential of its maritime domain, with government officials and industry leaders declaring that the nation can no longer afford to overlook the foundational science of hydrography. This was the focal point of discussions at a high-level stakeholders' dialogue in Accra, convened under the theme 'Building Hydrographic Capacity for National Development' by the Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA).
According to Ghana Web, at the meeting, the state institutions rallied both local and regional partners to urgently address a critical gap: most of Ghana's waters remain unsurveyed to requisite standards, posing significant risks to navigation, port efficiency, and the burgeoning blue economy. Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Transport, Joseph Nikpe Bukari, a government representative opened the dialogue at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel by stressing that 'hydrography is the foundation of all activities at sea,' yet remains one of the most unrecognised sciences in national development.
The Ministry of Transport, through the GMA, has already established the National Hydrographic and Oceanographic Committee (NHOC) and supported Ghana's membership in the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). A National Hydrographic Office (NHO) has also been created, though participants were informed that it must now be fully operationalised with survey and charting capacity, enhanced regulatory frameworks, and global partnerships. The critical missing link, speakers emphasized, is not just policy but resources - and collective national will.
In a notable show of regional collaboration, the dialogue featured Rear Admiral Ayo Olugbode (Retired), Vice Chairman of the International Center for Electronic Navigational Chart and immediate past Hydrographer of the National Hydrographic Agency of Nigeria. Nigeria was praised for its impressive strides in surveying and charting its waters, and Ghana's Maritime Authority formally invited the Nigerian delegation to share its experience.
Perhaps the most direct call to action came during the closing remarks by the Board Chairperson of the Ghana Maritime Authority. While commending the GMA and the Ministry for driving the agenda, the Chairperson made it clear that the responsibility cannot rest on one institution alone. 'Collaboration, support, and the provision of adequate resources from all relevant stakeholders will be essential,' the Board Chairperson said. 'Without singling out any agencies, I wish to call on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ghana Shippers Authority, the Petroleum Commission, and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to come on board fully to support this national agenda with resources.'
The dialogue ended with a commitment to operationalize the Nigerian delegation's recommendations and a formal declaration that Ghana's hydrographic development is now a shared national project.