Parliament has passed the Maritime and Related Offences Bill, 2026, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at strengthening Ghana’s legal framework to combat piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime-related crimes.
The new law provides a comprehensive legal regime for the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of piracy, armed robbery at sea and related offences, while aligning Ghana’s laws with key international maritime conventions.
According to the report of Parliament’s committee that considered the Maritime and Related Offences Bill, the legislation gives effect to 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, including its related protocols.
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The committee noted that the law aligns Ghana’s criminal legislation on piracy with Articles 100 to 105 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, strengthening the country’s capacity to prosecute maritime crimes effectively.
The report highlighted growing maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, where incidents of piracy, vessel hijackings, kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery at sea and the destruction of maritime property have increased over the past decade.
According to the committee, these criminal activities continue to threaten maritime trade, regional security, economic development and the safety of seafarers, making a stronger legal framework essential.
It observed that the absence of a dedicated law on maritime offences had created significant enforcement and prosecutorial challenges for security agencies.
“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 indicated that the legislation will strengthen Ghana’s maritime sector while ensuring the country’s compliance with international maritime obligations.
It said the new legal framework supports Ghana’s ambition of becoming a leading maritime hub within the Gulf of Guinea by improving trade security, strengthening state port control and closing existing gaps in maritime law.
The report also stressed that the legislation would boost investor confidence, protect Ghana’s territorial waters and safeguard the country’s maritime economy.
In addition, the committee noted that the law empowers security agencies to take decisive action against maritime offenders while protecting the livelihoods of seafarers operating in Ghana’s waters.
The committee unanimously endorsed the Maritime and Related Offences Bill and urged Parliament to approve it, describing the legislation as critical to securing Ghana’s maritime future.