Protect the ocean for a sustainable future – Agyekumhene urges Ghanaians
Ghanaians have been urged to make a concerted effort to protect the ocean due to its critical life-sustaining benefits for the country and the planet.
The Executive Director of the Wildlife and Human Resources Organisation (WHRO), Andrews Agyekumhene, made the call in an interview ahead of World Oceans Day 2025. He explained that the ocean absorbs about 90 per cent of the excess heat trapped from greenhouse gas emissions, making it vital to climate regulation.
World Oceans Day 2025, which is observed on June 8 each year, is being celebrated under the theme “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us.” The global event aims to highlight the importance of collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate.
Agyekumhene stated that the ocean’s removal of heat from the Earth’s surface helps prevent further atmospheric warming.
“Carbon dioxide is the major constituent of all human-produced greenhouse gases and is responsible for about 80% of the total heating on the planet,” he said. “The oceans absorb about 25–30% of human-generated CO₂ emissions annually, thereby reducing the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere. These functions of the ocean help to prevent the Earth from excessively heating up and cooking all living things on it.”
He further noted that the main sources of marine pollution originate from land-based human activities. Plastic pollution, in particular, poses a major threat due to littering, poorly managed landfills, and stormwater runoff.
Agyekumhene, who also lectures at the Department of Fisheries and Marine Sciences at the University of Ghana, identified microplastics from synthetic clothing, cosmetics, and degraded plastic waste as serious contributors to marine pollution.
He added that, beyond plastics, other pollutants such as fertilisers containing nitrogen and phosphorus, pesticides, herbicides, industrial chemical discharges, untreated sewage and wastewater are equally harmful to marine life.
“These activities not only increase the risk of disease among marine organisms but also pose health risks to humans and threaten species like sea turtles, seals, dolphins, sharks, and seabirds,” he stated.
The environmental expert highlighted how plastic waste, including bags and discarded fishing nets, entraps and kills marine animals. He warned that if such human-induced activities are not addressed, the quality of water and marine habitats will deteriorate, leading to a decline in biodiversity and marine populations.
Agyekumhene called on institutions, individuals, and relevant agencies to help safeguard the ocean by avoiding harmful practices that damage marine habitats and ultimately affect human survival.
He reiterated the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste, and encouraged the use of alternatives such as reusable water bottles, shopping bags, and food containers to minimise ocean pollution.
“Ghanaians should be better stewards of our natural forests to help reduce CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere. A reduction in the rate of forest destruction is key to addressing climate change,” he said.
Agyekumhene also underscored the role of continuous education and awareness creation by stakeholders, including the media, to inform communities, schools, and the public about the negative impacts of human activities on the sea.
“Let’s educate others through our social media handles and take action to protect the ocean by engaging in activities that promote ocean health. Avoid dumping on the beach, avoid dumping into the sea, regulate the use of agrochemicals, and clean the beaches,” he urged.
As part of activities marking World Oceans Day 2025, students from the University of Ghana and members of the Wildlife and Human Resources Organisation (WHRO) embarked on a clean-up exercise at Abia Community in Ningo-Prampram on Saturday.
