Background to the COMADRIP Project
In order to enhance marine and coastal protection in Ghana, we intend to establish a Coastal and Marine Conservation Drive Project (COMADRIP) in the Western Region of Ghana. The project will create a pilot site for the design and development of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) management strategy for the Greater Cape Three Points area that can feed into the national process for coastal conservation in Ghana. COMADRIP in collaboration with local communities, NGOs, and state actors will promote local economic development, nature protection and will contribute to the achievement of the following sustainable development goals (SDGs): 1 (reduce poverty), 2 (reduce hunger), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 14 (life below water). The project will work with local communities to conserve critical coastal habitats and promote coastal livelihoods in the selected fishing communities involved. It will also contribute to important policy outcomes on MPAs at the local and national scales. The project will be coordinated by the Centre for Coastal Management (the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience) at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. It will partner with civil society organizations including Hen Mpoano and other important state actors such as the Environmental Protection Agency and Forestry Commission of Ghana.
This work is a follow-up on a doctoral thesis of Dr. Alberta Ama Sagoe on marine and coastal conservation in the Western Region of Ghana. Her study sought, among others, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of ecosystems in the Greater Cape Three Points (GCTP) area to identify critical areas for conservation and explore the management options available for the potential creation of MPAs. Synthesizing the results of the assessment, the study proposed a conservation plan for the GCTP area to comprise a network of individual multiple-use MPAs, with special areas designated as “General use zones” and/or “Sanctuary zones”. These findings form the basis for the COMADRIP. COMADRIP seeks to translate the scientific research findings to a practical field application to enhance conservation efforts in the area.
Project Goal
The overall goal of the project is to promote coastal habitat and livelihoods conservation in Ghana through the establishment of marine protected areas.
The Project seeks to achieve the following:
- Promote knowledge about ecosystem values and their conservation needs in the Greater Cape Three Points Area
- Identify potential livelihoods sources for the development of livelihoods diversification in the Greater Cape Three Points Area
- Develop standards for zoning and planning for the establishment of a marine protected area in the Greater Cape Three Points Area
- Facilitate policy development on marine protected areas in Ghana
- Enhance community-based ecosystem management in the Greater Cape Three Points Area.
