Ghana to strengthen sea security with passage of Maritime Offences Bill

Ghana has taken a major step to protect its waters and shipping routes after Parliament passed the Maritime and Related Offences Bill, 2026.

The new law gives the country a dedicated legal framework to deal with piracy, armed robbery at sea, vessel hijacking, kidnappings for ransom and other maritime crimes.

Its passage comes at a time when the Gulf of Guinea continues to face security threats that affect shipping, trade, seafarers and coastal economies.

For years, Ghana’s ability to respond to such crimes was limited by the absence of a specific law dealing comprehensively with maritime offences.

Parliament’s committee that reviewed the Bill said that gap had created difficulties for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.

According to the committee, the new legislation now provides a clear basis for the prevention, investigation, arrest, prosecution and punishment of persons involved in piracy and related crimes.

The law also brings Ghana’s domestic criminal framework closer to international maritime standards.

It gives effect to key provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation.

It also aligns Ghana’s laws on piracy with Articles 100 to 105 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The committee noted that maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea has increased over the past decade.

It cited piracy, armed attacks on ships, vessel hijackings, kidnappings and destruction of maritime property as some of the threats confronting the region.

These crimes, it said, do not only endanger seafarers but also threaten regional stability, international trade and economic development.

Ghana’s ports and maritime sector are central to the country’s economy, making stronger protection of territorial waters and shipping routes necessary.

The committee said the new law would support Ghana’s ambition to become a major maritime and logistics hub in the Gulf of Guinea.

It said improved maritime security would strengthen trade protection, enhance port control and boost investor confidence.

“The absence of a dedicated legal framework on maritime offences in Ghana creates enforcement and prosecutorial challenges in dealing with piracy and related crimes. The enactment of this Bill will, therefore, provide the necessary legal basis for the investigation, arrest, prosecution and punishment of offenders,” the committee stated.

The report also said security agencies would now be better positioned to respond to maritime threats and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.

With the passage of the Bill, Ghana is expected to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the fight against transnational maritime crime.

The new law is also expected to improve the country’s reputation as a safer destination for shipping, port operations and maritime investment.