Parliament has passed the Maritime and Related Offences Bill, 2026, in a major move to strengthen Ghana’s fight against piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime crimes.
The new legislation provides a comprehensive legal framework for preventing, investigating, prosecuting and punishing offences committed in Ghana’s maritime domain. It also aligns the country’s laws with key international conventions, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation.
According to the Parliamentary Committee’s report on the Bill, the law is designed to close longstanding legal gaps that have made it difficult for authorities to effectively deal with piracy and related offences.
The committee noted that maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea has increased over the past decade, with incidents ranging from piracy and vessel hijackings to kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery at sea and the destruction of maritime property. These threats, it said, continue to endanger maritime trade, regional security, economic growth and the safety of seafarers.
Members of the committee explained that Ghana previously lacked a dedicated legal framework specifically targeting maritime offences, creating challenges for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors when handling such cases.
“The enactment of this Bill provides the legal basis for the investigation, arrest, prosecution and punishment of offenders,” the committee stated in its report.
The legislation also brings Ghana’s criminal laws on piracy in line with Articles 100 to 105 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ensuring that the country meets its international obligations in combating maritime crime.
Beyond improving security, lawmakers believe the new law will support Ghana’s broader ambition of becoming a leading maritime hub in the Gulf of Guinea. The committee said strengthening maritime governance would boost trade security, improve port oversight and increase investor confidence in the sector.
It further noted that the law will enhance the ability of security agencies to respond swiftly to maritime threats while protecting Ghana’s territorial waters and maritime economy.
The committee described the legislation as a critical step toward safeguarding the livelihoods of seafarers and ensuring that perpetrators of maritime crimes are brought to justice.
