Parliament has officially passed the Maritime and Related Offences Bill, 2026, aimed at enhancing Ghana’s legal framework to combat piracy, armed robbery at sea, and other maritime-related crimes.
This legislation intends to outlaw piracy, robbery at sea, and associated offences while implementing the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, along with its related protocols.
As per the committee’s report on the Bill, the new law establishes a thorough legal framework for the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and punishment of piracy, armed robbery at sea, and other maritime offences.
The report highlighted that the legislation also aligns Ghana’s criminal laws concerning piracy with Articles 100 to 105 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
It elaborated that the Gulf of Guinea has witnessed a rise in maritime insecurity over the last decade, which includes piracy, vessel hijackings, kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery at sea, and the destruction of maritime property.
The committee indicated that these crimes present significant threats to maritime trade, regional stability, economic development, and the safety of seafarers, thereby necessitating a more robust legal and institutional framework.
The report noted that the lack of a dedicated legal framework for maritime offences has resulted in enforcement and prosecutorial difficulties in addressing piracy and related crimes.
“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 committee further asserted that the legislation would bolster Ghana’s maritime sector and ensure adherence to international conventions.
“This legal regime is critical to Ghana’s ambition of becoming a maritime hub in the Gulf of Guinea. By closing gaps in our maritime law, the Bill strengthens trade security and enhances state port control,” the report said.
It was noted that the legislation would bolster investor confidence while safeguarding Ghana’s territorial waters and maritime economy.
“Most importantly, the Bill empowers security agencies to act decisively, thereby ensuring that offenders face justice while safeguarding the livelihoods of our seafarers,” the committee added.
The committee conveyed its endorsement of the legislation and called on Parliament to approve it promptly.
“The Committee, therefore, expresses its full support for this legislation and urge its swift passage to secure Ghana’s maritime future,” the report concluded.
