The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has established an Africa Ocean Institute (AOI) as part of efforts to advance ocean research and governance on the continent.
The acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Denis Aheto, who announced this at a press conference in Cape Coast, Central Region, said the institute had formally commenced operations following approval from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and the successful completion of all requisite internal university procedures.
He said the establishment of the institute under the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences marked a significant milestone in strengthening the nation’s leadership in ocean and coastal research, governance and sustainable development with a clear continental focus.
Structure
The institute is structured around three complementary centres in the university, including the Centre for Coastal Management (CCM), a World Bank-recognised Africa centre of excellence in coastal resilience, with strength in climate adaptation, ecosystem management, applied research and policy engagement.
The others are the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (DFAS), designated as an AU centre of excellence for marine fisheries and coastal zone management, contributing expertise in fisheries science, aquatic ecosystems, food security and sustainable resource management and the Centre for Marine Affairs (CeMA), a newly established centre focused on interdisciplinary research in marine governance, ocean policy, law and the blue economy, strengthening the interface between science, decision-making, and societal impact.
Marine resources
Prof. Aheto said out of the 54 countries in Africa, 38 were coastal states, with the marine waters of Africa nations, as well as other marine resources across the world defined Africa’s past present and future.
“From food security and livelihoods to climate regulation to bio-diversity, Ghana and Africa’s coastal and marine spaces are central to the continent’s development prospects,” he added.
Prof. Aheto explained that the institute was designed as a strategic academic and policy-oriented initiative to address the growing environmental, socio-economic and governance challenges facing Africa’s marine and coastal spaces.
Prof Aheto further said that work at the institute also aligned with key sustainable development goals (SDGs), such as goals four, eight,13,14,and 17, while promoting African-led knowledge and perspectives in global ocean processes.
Research
The Head of the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Department of UCC, Prof. Joseph Aggrey-Fynn, said the institute would deepen research in the marine space, adding that there were several unexplored marine based industries that must be explored for socio-economic growth.
He also said that marine was linked to pharmaceutical, tourism, energy and other industries which Prof. Aggrey-Fynn said were currently not being tapped.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
