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By Evelyn Arthur
Maritime women associations and industry stakeholders on Monday joined forces to commemorate this year’s World Oceans Day with a beach clean-up exercise behind the Regional Maritime University (RMU), reaffirming their commitment to protecting Ghana’s marine environment and promoting sustainable ocean use.
The initiative, spearheaded by Schulte Maritime Service Ghana Ltd (BSM) alongside the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association Ghana (WISTA-Ghana), Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA) and Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA), brought together maritime professionals, students, environmental advocates and volunteers to remove plastic waste and other pollutants from the coastline.

Speaking in an interview with the Business and Financial Times (B&FT) during the event, the Director of Schulte Maritime Services Ghana ltd, Captain Joshua Addo Nii Addo indicated that the exercise formed part of global activities marking World Oceans Day, observed annually to raise awareness about the critical role oceans play in sustaining life, supporting trade and driving economic growth.
According to him, marine pollution, particularly plastic waste, continues to threaten biodiversity, fisheries, tourism and the broader blue economy. He noted that collective action and public education are essential to reversing the growing environmental challenges confronting the world’s oceans.

Capt. Addo echoed President John Dramani Mahama’s call for greater environmental responsibility, stressing the need for citizens to change their attitudes toward protecting waterways.
“We have to change our attitude so that this day will be a day where we protect the species and make the waters safe as the theme of the year ‘strong marine protected areas for blue planet”, he stressed.
Speaking during the event, President of WISTA-Ghana, Gertrude Ohene-Asianim emphasised that protecting the oceans is a shared responsibility that extends beyond governments and environmental agencies. She called on coastal communities, businesses, and the general public to adopt responsible waste disposal practices and support initiatives aimed at preserving marine ecosystems.
She called for stronger partnerships among stakeholders to tackle marine litter and safeguard ocean resources for future generations.
She said, “As Ghana seeks to expand its blue economy and strengthen maritime trade, maintaining clean and healthy oceans remains critical to ensuring sustainable economic development and environmental resilience.”

President of WIMA, Magdalene Ofori Addai, noted that the clean-up exercise served as a platform to inspire greater environmental stewardship among young people and maritime professionals, while highlighting the important role women continue to play in advancing sustainability within the maritime sector.