The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has started a process to ramp up interest from relevant stakeholders to support the full mapping and charting of the country’s maritime domain and inland waters within the next three years.
The initiative, driven by the high cost of hydrographic activities, is estimated between €70 billion and €80 billion for maritime space and about $40 million for inland waters, and has prompted the authority to prioritise local capacity development.
As a result, the authority is of the view that developing domestic expertise and adopting an incremental approach would enable the country to undertake the exercise in a sustainable manner.
When completed, the project would significantly improve navigation safety, strengthen resource management and enhance the country’s ability to maximise economic value from its maritime domain.
At a stakeholder dialogue on building hydrographic capacity for national development in Accra last Tuesday, the Director-General of the GMA, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, said the authority was adopting a phased approach that would allow the country to build capacity while gradually undertaking the mapping exercise.
Limited resources
The Director-General explained that limited financial resources made it impractical to rely solely on large external investments; hence, the need to develop local expertise and deploy available equipment in stages.
“We did not have those resources, so we had to build the capacity and begin to do it ourselves, starting with what we had and improving it over time,” he said.
He said the country already had trained personnel in related fields, but the need to refine and integrate these skills into a coordinated national hydrographic system was crucial.
Collaboration
Dr Ali stated that the initiative would involve collaboration with key institutions, including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Petroleum Commission and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, to mobilise both technical and financial support.
He stressed that improved hydrographic data would strengthen the country’s negotiating position in offshore resource exploration, as better information on maritime assets would reduce uncertainty for investors.
He said the effort would also enhance the protection of critical infrastructure such as oil platforms, pipelines and subsea data cables, while supporting safer navigation and sustainable exploitation of marine resources.
“If you are asking investors to explore uncharted areas, you are forced to accept lower returns, but with reliable data, the country can negotiate from a position of strength,” he said.
he Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority, Abraham Amaliba, who represented the Minister of Transport, stated that hydrography remained one of the most under-recognised sciences despite its central role in national development.
He said the government placed strong emphasis on hydrographic data as a foundation for maritime safety, economic planning and the sustainable use of ocean resources.
He explained that inadequate charts increased risks at sea, including accidents, environmental damage, higher insurance costs and inefficient shipping routes.
He said Ghana was strengthening coordination through the National Hydrographic Committee and the establishment of a National Hydrographic Office to improve data sharing and standardisation.
Ghana’s commitment
A delegation from Nigeria, led by the Vice Chair of the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts, Rear Admiral Ayo Olugbode, shared expertise on hydrographic surveying, nautical charting and institutional frameworks for developing sustainable national hydrographic systems.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Hydrographic Agency, Rear Admiral Olumide Olajide, said the dialogue reflected Ghana’s commitment to collaboration, shared responsibility and a collective vision for strengthening hydrography for national and regional development.
He explained that progress in such a strategic field required unity of purpose among institutions and professionals working together to align priorities and chart a common path forward.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh