Ghana’s Parliament has passed the Maritime and Anti-Piracy Bill, 2025, introducing a comprehensive legal framework to tackle piracy, armed robbery and other criminal activities within the country’s maritime domain.
The legislation is designed to strengthen Ghana’s ability to prevent, investigate and prosecute offenses committed at sea while bringing the country’s maritime laws in line with international standards, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention).
The new law grants Ghanaian authorities clearer legal powers to arrest, investigate and prosecute individuals involved in piracy and other maritime crimes. It also establishes tougher penalties for offenders as part of efforts to deter criminal activities along the country’s coastline.
Lawmakers say the legislation is crucial to protecting Ghana’s territorial waters, offshore oil and gas installations, fishing activities and international shipping routes, all of which contribute significantly to the national economy.
The passage of the bill is also expected to strengthen regional cooperation in combating maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea, a region that has experienced incidents of piracy and armed attacks against commercial vessels in recent years.
Government officials believe the new legal framework will improve maritime safety, safeguard trade and enhance investor confidence in Ghana’s shipping and port sectors. It is also expected to reinforce the country’s commitment to international maritime security obligations.
Stakeholders in the maritime industry have welcomed the legislation, describing it as a major step toward protecting lives, cargo and critical maritime infrastructure while promoting safer navigation within Ghana’s waters.
