Ghana's coastline stretches 550 kilometers, brimming with untapped economic potential. Yet, for decades, our marine economy has been narrowly focused on fishing - a sector now in crisis due to overexploitation and illegal fishing.

Meanwhile, coastal tourism, a global trillion-dollar industry, remains underdeveloped despite Ghana's golden beaches, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant coastal communities.

As a former leader in heritage preservation and tourism enthusiast, I argue that Ghana must pivot decisively toward coastal tourism while strategically reforming fisheries to ensure long-term sustainability. The numbers don't lie: tourism offers higher revenue, more jobs, and greater resilience. The question is whether our policymakers will act - or let another economic opportunity slip away.

The Global Landscape: Fishing vs. Coastal Tourism

1. Economic Value
   Fishing Industry: A Declining Lifeline

• Global Market: Approximately $253 billion (2023), with aquaculture growing but wild fisheries shrinking.
• Ghana's Share: Once a regional leader, Ghana's fisheries now contribute about $1.5 billion annually, down from $2 billion a decade ago due to overfishing and illegal trawling.
• Key Problem: Foreign vessels (particularly Chinese trawlers) engage in Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, costing Ghana $200 million yearly in lost revenue.

Coastal Tourism: The Sleeping Giant

• Global Market: Approximately $4.7 trillion before COVID-19, rebounding strongly.
• Ghana's Share: A mere $3 billion in total (2023), despite having better beaches which account for little.
• Untapped Potential: Our coastline could generate $10 billion+ annually with proper investment in resorts, cruise tourism, and cultural attractions.

Verdict: Tourism is 1,800% larger globally than fishing - why is Ghana still betting on a dying industry?

2. Employment: Quality vs. Quantity
   Fishing: A Sector in Distress

• Jobs: About 2.5 million Ghanaians depend on fisheries, but stocks are collapsing.
• Challenges: Most jobs are informal, low-paying, and dangerous (e.g., hazardous sea conditions, child labor in processing).
• Future Outlook: Without drastic reforms, half of these jobs could disappear in 10 years.

Tourism: A Job Multiplier

• Jobs: Already about 700,000 Ghanaians work in hospitality, but coastal tourism could triple this number.
• Diverse Opportunities: Hotels, tour guides, artisans, transport, and entertainment - all higher-skilled and better-paying than fishing.
• Case Study: Dakar's beaches attract 10x more tourists than Accra's, creating several formal jobs.

Verdict: Tourism creates more, better, and sustainable jobs - exactly what Ghana's youth need.

Sustainability: Which Industry Has a Future?

Fishing: On the Brink of Collapse

• Overfishing: 33% of global fish stocks are overexploited; Ghana's small pelagic stocks (sardines, mackerel) have declined by 80% since 1990.
• Climate Change: Rising sea temperatures disrupt fish breeding, worsening shortages.
• Solution? Shift to aquaculture (fish farming), but Ghana invests less than $50 million/year - far below Nigeria ($300m) and Egypt ($1bn).

Tourism: A Renewable Resource

• Beaches Don't Deplete: Unlike fish, Ghana's coastline is a permanent asset - if maintained.
• Eco-Tourism Boom: Global travelers increasingly seek green, cultural, and community-based tourism - Ghana's forts, festivals, and fishing villages are perfect for this.
• Threats: Poor sanitation (e.g., plastic pollution) and weak infrastructure (e.g., no 5-star beach resorts).
• Tourism is a 24 hour operation which aligns perfectly with the agenda of the current government.

Verdict: Fishing is fighting for survival; tourism is waiting for investment.

A Blueprint for Ghana's Marine Economy

1. Immediate Tourism Investments

• Public-Private Resorts: Lease beachfront lands to international hotel chains (e.g., Radisson, Marriott) with local employment quotas.
• Cruise Tourism: Develop Takoradi and Tema ports as cruise destinations (like Senegal's Dakar).
• Festival Economy: Expand Kundum, Hogbetsotso, and Panafest into major tourist draws.

1. Fisheries Reform: A Managed Transition

• Ban IUU Fishing: Deploy naval patrols and satellite surveillance (as Seychelles does).
• Aquaculture Zones: Designate Volta and Central Regions for fish and shrimp farming.
• Alternative Livelihoods: Train fishers in boat tourism, seafood restaurants, and handicrafts.

1. Avoid Past Mistakes

• No More Zoomlion-Style Monopolies: Contracts must be competitive, transparent, and performance-based.
• Community Involvement: Coastal towns must own and benefit from tourism projects - not just be spectators.

Conclusion:
We stand at a crossroads: continue clinging to a dying fishing industry or embrace tourism as the future of our marine economy. The data is clear - tourism wins on jobs, revenue, and sustainability.

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By Kwame Sowu, Former Board Chairman, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board