Group picture of Participants at the Opening Ceremony, 22nd March 2017, Centre for African Wetlands, University of Ghana.
A station to receive earth observation data to be used to predict the ocean weather conditions and monitor activities in the marine environment in West Africa has been commissioned by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, at the ECOWAS Coastal and Marine Resources Management Centre, located at University of Ghana.
The ECOWAS Marine Centre is implementing operational technological services in Western Africa to support fisheries management and forecast of ocean conditions. These activities are part of the Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) project that utilizes Earth Observation (EO) data and information to improve management of the environment and security in Africa.
The event which took place on 22nd March, 2017 at the University of Ghana, was organized as part of the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd MESA Regional Steering Committee meeting which brought together over 50 decision and policy makers, practitioners and experts in fisheries and oceanography from 14 western African countries.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Johnson Boanuh, the Director of Environment at the ECOWAS Commission, expressed his profound gratitude to the participants for their continued interest and commitment to manage efficiently, the marine fisheries resources in the sub-region. He also emphasized that the commissioning of the receiving station would facilitate the receiving and processing of Earth Observation (EO) data which will be used to provide relevant information for both policy decision makers and end users, including artisanal fishermen across the West African region for safety at sea and tracking of fishing vessels.
Delivering the key note address, Madam Gifty Mahama Biyira on behalf of Hon. Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, indicated the significance of the fisheries sector to the well-being of the country and other coastal states in the sub-region. She also reiterated that the issue of Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported (IUU) fishing has detrimental effects on both human and marine resources hence government’s commitment to deal with the issue in an efficient manner.
She further expressed her excitement that there is in place a monitoring of the activities of inshore vessels through the use of Automatic Identification System in the region: an activity spearheaded by University of Ghana. She added that her ministry is currently implementing a marine fisheries management plan which would help combat and reduce IUU fishing in Ghana and this would help greatly in monitoring the inshore fleet operating in Ghanaian waters and hence support sustainable exploitation and ensure that IUU fishing is dealt with, and ultimately help restore depleted fishery stock.
The Vice-Chancellor, who, at the 2nd meeting of the Committee in Abuja last year served as the Director of the project at the University level, also expressed his joy in seeing the progress that the Centre has made in the region as well as the change it is making in the life of fishermen and the fight against IUU in the region.
Group picture during the commissioning of the data receiving station, the Vice-Chancellor, supported by the team from ECOWA Commission, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the Provost of CBAS and the representative of European Union Delegation in Ghana
The earth observation data receiving station was later commissioned by the Vice-Chacellor in the presence of the Provost of College and Basic Applied sciences, Prof. Daniel Asiedu and various Deans, Directors and Departmental Head at the University level, among other dignitaries.
The commissioned data receiving station is one of the 21 stations received by the public and research institutions and universities in 14 western african countries. The ECOWAS Coastal and Marine Resources Management Centre provides technical support in the region and has availed the satellite data received to the university community to enhance learning and capacity building. The MESA project is supported by the European Commission under the 10th EDF.
From left to right: The national focal point coordinator of Ghana, the Vice Chancellor, the Director for Environment of ECOWAS Commission, the representative of the European Union Delegation in Ghana and the Provost of CBAS, being briefed by the Project Manager, Dr. George Wiafe, during the tour of the Centre.
