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CEMLAWS organises workshop on transparency and accountability
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A day’s workshop aimed at disseminating the findings on transparency and accountability in Ghana’s fisheries sector project has been held in Accra.
Organised by the Centre for Maritime Law and Security (CEMLAWS) Africa yesterday, the transparency and accountability in Ghana’s fisheries sector project was funded through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Vibrant Oceans project titled: Enhancing Transparency in the Fisheries Sector of Ghana.
The project which was carried out in four African countries including Ghana sought to evaluate transparency and accountability gaps within the fisheries sector, with a focus on governance and policy framework.
According to the Programmes Manager at (CEMLAWS) Africa, Dr Rebecca K. Essamuah, although there had been transparency by the government in the fisheries sector, more could be done to improve it.
She explained that transparency mechanisms in the fisheries sector could be improved by making information more available, and including stakeholders in decision-making for their voice to be heard.
Dr Essamuah further underscored the need to have a concerted effort that was geared towards achieving a sustainable fisheries sector as efforts to meet transparency goals were scattered.
In addition, she noted that the project had three main objectives which were to assess the transparency and accountability, to assess the functional information-sharing mechanisms and to find out how transparency was being held across the regions in terms of governance and enforcement in the fisheries sector.
The Board Chairman of the Fisheries Commission (FC), Professor Francis Nunoo noted that his outfit was collecting data on fisheries to help improve the inland fisheries sector.
This, he said, was important due to limited data in the inland fisheries sector compared to the marine fisheries sector.
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Prof Nunoo further bemoaned how information or data obtained from the FC by stakeholders in the fisheries sector and individuals were often misinterpreted and therefore recommended a formal engagement with stakeholders in the fisheries sector to better explain the data obtained to them as the sector was the least understood in West Africa.
He asserted that although the government had supported the FC over the past years, the FC still faced challenges in terms of data collection which affected its operations.
The Board Chairman therefore urged the government to assist the FC by providing it with adequate resources to help in data collection to help the FC manage the fisheries sector effectively.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), in a keynote address read on her behalf by a representative from the MoFAD noted that good governance, transparency, and accountability were essential for the sustainable management of natural resources in Ghana, including fisheries and aquaculture.
The Minister emphasised government’s commitment to improve transparency and accountability in the fisheries sector by collaborating with stakeholders in the implementation of fisheries policies, plans and management measures.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed all aspirants campaigning in the Greater Accra Region to suspend their campaign activities on August 5 and 6 and instead mobilise supporters for the party’s planned “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.
The directive was issued by the party’s National Steering Committee in a statement signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the decision forms part of efforts to ensure a strong turnout for the demonstration, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2026.
The party said the protest would begin at 5:00 a.m., with participants expected to gather at the Supreme Court in Accra.
It further directed Regional, Constituency and Polling Station Executives in Greater Accra to work closely to mobilise members and supporters for the event.
“The National Steering Committee is calling on all aspirants currently campaigning across the Greater Accra Region to temporarily suspend their campaign activities on the 5th and 6th of August and join in mobilising support for the upcoming demonstration,” the statement noted.
The NPP appealed to party members and supporters to remain peaceful, disciplined and orderly throughout the protest.
The demonstration forms part of the party’s response to concerns it has raised over issues relating to Ghana’s democratic governance and the justice system.
The NPP leadership expressed confidence that party members would cooperate fully to ensure a successful and peaceful event.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced that the government has accepted the recommendation to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment as part of the constitutional review process.
He said the proposed amendment would affect Articles 3, 13, 19 and 72 of the 1992 Constitution, with offences that previously attracted the death penalty instead carrying life imprisonment.
Dr. Ayine made the announcement on July 30, 2026, at the Jubilee House in Accra during the Government Accountability Series while outlining the government’s position on the final recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee.
According to him, the government believes the death penalty is inconsistent with the constitutional right to life and Ghana’s international human rights obligations.
He explained that the recommendation forms part of broader proposals aimed at strengthening the protection of fundamental human rights under the Constitution.
Dr. Ayine said the government had also accepted the spirit of several recommendations to expand rights relating to women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons and the youth.
He added that a comprehensive Human Rights Act would be introduced to protect these rights and provide detailed enforcement mechanisms instead of amending the entrenched provisions of the Constitution through a national referendum.
By: Jacob Aggrey
