A LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO STRENGTHEN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL MARITIME ACTIVITIES IN THE ECOWAS REGION IS ON THE WAY
"Illegal maritime activities continue to have far-reaching economic, security, environmental and social consequences on a global scale, and West Africa is not spared from this situation. Although maritime piracy has declined in the West African region, it continues to face various forms of threats to maritime security, notably armed robbery at sea and illicit drug […]"
Illegal maritime activities continue to have far-reaching economic, security, environmental and social consequences on a global scale, and West Africa is not spared from this situation.
Although maritime piracy has declined in the West African region, it continues to face various forms of threats to maritime security, notably armed robbery at sea and illicit drug trafficking.
The meeting of experts from the Ministries of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which opened on Tuesday 28 April 2026 in Lomé, Togo, is intended to examine a draft additional act on cooperation in the fight against illicit maritime activities within ECOWAS.
The aim of the draft is to provide the ECOWAS region with a harmonised framework to combat illicit maritime activities more effectively. This draft is also designed not only as a means of strengthening regional judicial cooperation in the fight against maritime crime, but also as a key lever to help overcome the challenges posed by the shortage of law enforcement capacity and resources in West Africa.
The Togolese Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Pacôme Adjourouvi, praised the draft organic law as an effective instrument capable of providing the regional community with a modern, coherent and operational legal framework, designed to strengthen mechanisms for judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
“The adoption of this instrument will mark a decisive step in the process of regional legal integration, contributing to the emergence of a judicial area based on mutual trust, solidarity between states and respect for international commitments. In particular, it includes provisions on mutual legal assistance, the extradition of persons under prosecution or convicted, the exchange of information and evidence, as well as the coordination of prosecutions between national jurisdictions.” — Pacôme Adjourouvi, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Togo
In his view, this two-day meeting, organised by the ECOWAS Commission in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), forms part of the ongoing drive to deepen regional integration and consolidate the rule of law. He called on ECOWAS member states to consolidate the legal foundations for enhanced regional cooperation, capable of ensuring maritime security, protecting natural resources and promoting the economic development of West Africa.
For her part, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Togo, Ms Deweh Emily Gray, representing the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, urged participants to review and enhance the draft additional act and to ensure its compliance with relevant regional and international protocols.
She thanked ECOWAS member states for their commitment to combating illicit maritime activities at the regional level, as well as the European Union for its partnership with the West African organisation on maritime security. She also expressed her gratitude to UNODC, not only for its support under the EU-funded ‘Safe Seas for Africa’ project, but also for its technical assistance throughout the various stages leading to the drafting of this draft additional act.
Speaking on behalf of UNODC, the Deputy Programme Manager of the Global Programme against Maritime Crime, Francis Izegaegbe Omiunu, noted that this meeting marked another important milestone in the ongoing engagement and partnership with ECOWAS. He expressed optimism that the draft, if adopted by Member States, would provide a range of enforcement measures to further strengthen cooperation in combating illicit maritime activities within the ECOWAS maritime domain.
The meeting, which will conclude on Wednesday 29 April 2026, is expected to finalise the draft additional act, with a view to its submission to the ECOWAS Ministers of Justice, who will meet on Thursday 30 April 2026, also in the Togolese capital, to approve it.
Deep Analysis
AI Intelligence
Automated insights generated by DeepSeek-V3 based on the article content.
Key Impact
- This new legal framework could cut illegal fishing losses for Ghanaian fishers, especially in the Western Region, by enabling faster cross-border pursuit of poachers.
- It may reduce drug smuggling via Ghana's ports like Tema and Takoradi, which are key transit points for illicit narcotics in West Africa.
- The framework could boost maritime security investments by foreign partners, such as the EU, who back the 'Safe Seas for Africa' project in Ghana's waters.
Background
- A two-day expert meeting in Lomé, Togo, began on 28 April 2026 to finalise a draft additional act on fighting illicit maritime activities in the ECOWAS region.
- Despite a decline in piracy, West Africa still faces armed robbery at sea and drug trafficking, threatening Ghana's maritime zone near the Gulf of Guinea.
- The draft act is supported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the ECOWAS Commission, aiming to harmonise legal responses across 15 member states, including Ghana.
Benefits
- Ghanaian courts will gain stronger tools for mutual legal assistance, making it easier to extradite suspects involved in maritime crimes like illegal fishing or smuggling.
- The framework promotes information sharing between Ghana and neighbours such as Côte d'Ivoire and Togo, potentially reducing response times to maritime incidents.
- It could protect Ghana's marine resources, such as tuna stocks off the coast of the Central Region, supporting local fishing communities.
Risks & Warnings
- Implementation may be slow due to weak law enforcement capacity in Ghana's Maritime Safety Authority and Navy, limiting immediate effectiveness.
- Disagreements among ECOWAS states could delay adoption or dilute the act, leaving gaps for criminals to exploit in Ghana's waters.
- The framework may increase administrative burden on Ghana's Ministry of Justice and Attorney General's Department, requiring new staff or training.
Who Is Affected
- Fisherfolk in coastal communities like Elmina and Axim will benefit from reduced illegal fishing, improving their catch and livelihoods.
- Ghana's Navy and Ports Authority must adapt operations to align with new regional rules, requiring coordination with ECOWAS partners.
- Drug traffickers using Ghana as a transit hub face higher risks of cross-border prosecution, potentially disrupting networks along the coast.
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