Regional Marine Centre

Regional Marine Centre The Regional Marine Centre, at University of Ghana is implementing the GMES & Africa project on Marine and Coastal Areas Management for western Africa.

Our services provide up-to-date information on coastal habitat, shoreline changes,ocean conditions , potential fishing zone maps and vessel traffic developed from models driven by EO data. This action is in partnership with seven state institutions, namely Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Centre for Oceanographic Research of Dakar-Thiaroye (CRODT), Ghana Meteorolo

gical Agency (GMet), Benin Oceanologic and Fisheries Research Institut (IRHOB), Centre Universitaire De Recherche d'Application en Télédétection (CURAT), Wetlands International Africa (WIA), and Institut National de Développement des Pêches (INDP). The main beneficiaries of the project are environmental and fisheries managers and coastal communities in the 12 coastal countries West Africa. The EO services provided include: monitoring and forecasting of physical and biological oceanographic variables, information on ocean processes that impact fishing and safety of fishers; intelligence to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing; monitoring of vulnerable coastal ecosystem/habitats, and shoreline changes. Another important component of the project is strengthening existing capacity to effectively utilize EO data, both by technocrats and policy and decision makers. The project is cofunded by the European Union and African Union Commissions

We were glad to participate in the AfricaGIS 2025 and UN-GGIM: Africa XI Joint Conference, held from 17–21 November at t...
23/11/2025

We were glad to participate in the AfricaGIS 2025 and UN-GGIM: Africa XI Joint Conference, held from 17–21 November at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. The week brought together a global community working to advance geospatial intelligence for a sustainable and resilient Africa.

As part of the MarCNoWA Project under the GMES and Africa Initiative, the Regional Marine Centre of the University of Ghana had the privilege of hosting His Excellency Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Agency and one of the keynote speakers. He shared thoughtful insights on the importance of Africa developing its own solutions for its own challenges and highlighted the progress and impact of the GMES and Africa Programme across the continent.

We were also proud to welcome our PhD scholarship awardees from Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, and Senegal. They presented their research abstracts and expressed their gratitude to GMES and Africa for supporting their academic work and the opportunities it has created for them.

Throughout the conference, we showcased the MarCNoWA products and services, including the MarCNoWA Web Portal, at our exhibition booth. It gave us the chance to connect with partners, share ongoing work, and gather valuable feedback for future development.

This year’s gathering reinforced the collective effort needed to strengthen Africa’s geospatial ecosystem, and we’re committed to continuing our contribution through research, capacity building, and regional collaboration.

African Union

Highlights – Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring & Response | Accra, Ghana | 13th November, 2025Day 3 brought ev...
23/11/2025

Highlights – Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring & Response | Accra, Ghana | 13th November, 2025

Day 3 brought everything together with a full end-to-end simulation: detection, modelling, and operational decision-making.

Country teams worked through a coordinated workflow to test how regional systems can support rapid, data-driven responses during a spill event.

The sessions that followed focused on training needs for national agencies, inter-agency collaboration, and the regional mechanisms required for faster cross-border coordination.
Participants also reviewed opportunities to align national SOPs with the UNEP–Abidjan Convention framework.

The workshop closed with commitments from participating countries and the presentation of certificates. This marks an important step toward a stronger, integrated oil spill early-warning and response network for West Africa.

Highlights – Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring & Response | Accra, GhanaDay 2 shifted from introductions to de...
23/11/2025

Highlights – Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring & Response | Accra, Ghana

Day 2 shifted from introductions to deep technical work. Participants explored how modelling, forecasting, and geospatial tools strengthen national and regional readiness for oil spill events.

The morning focused on oil spill dissipation modelling, followed by a hands-on session where country teams ran drift forecasts using real satellite data. ESRI shared practical tools that can support rapid assessments during active spill events.

National operations, coast guards, and fisheries representatives also discussed how each country intends to use the MarCNoWA detection and drift tools within their existing mandates and reporting structures. The day closed with planning for tomorrow’s full simulation exercise, assigning roles and outlining the operational workflow.

We continue to build a strong, coordinated foundation for effective marine protection across West Africa.

Highlights on the Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response | Accra, Ghana | 11th November 2025 The first...
23/11/2025

Highlights on the Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response | Accra, Ghana | 11th November 2025

The first day of the Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response opened with strong participation from regional and international partners dedicated to improving marine protection and preparedness across Africa’s coastal states.

We were honored to welcome His Excellency Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Agency, who delivered a powerful keynote on the importance of Earth Observation and space technology in tackling environmental challenges.

Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS) and Director of the GMES & Africa Project at the University of Ghana, gave the welcome address, emphasizing the University’s leadership in advancing regional cooperation and innovation in ocean science.

Madam Joana Akrofi also delivered key remarks from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Mr. Barthelemy Jean Auguste Batieno, The Regional Cordinator from the Abidjan Convention Secretariat, who both underscored the value of partnerships in building coordinated and effective oil spill response mechanisms.

National representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Guinea-Bissau shared insights on national experiences, existing monitoring systems, and key challenges in oil spill response.

The day concluded with an in-depth presentation on the institutional coordination and data-sharing mechanisms under the UNEP-Abidjan Convention framework, fostering dialogue on how countries can align their legal and operational systems for faster, cross-border response.

Tomorrow’s sessions will feature a live demonstration of the MarCNoWA Oil Spill Monitoring Service and practical exercises on Earth Observation–based spill detection and modeling. Together, we are building the foundation for a collaborative, technology-driven approach to protecting Africa’s marine and coastal environments.

Highlights – Localisation, Audio Recording & National Roll-Out Plans 4 November 2025 | Lome, TogoDay 2 moved deeper in...
23/11/2025

Highlights – Localisation, Audio Recording & National Roll-Out Plans
4 November 2025 | Lome, Togo

Day 2 moved deeper into practical work. Teams focused on translating advisories into English, French, Twi, Fante, Pidgin, Yoruba, and other local languages in the West African region and generated short audio clips to support fishers who rely more on spoken messages.

We recorded audio contributions from representatives across all participating countries. These will help refine the clarity and relevance of future WhatsApp advisories.

The sessions reviewed how the flag system links with digital messaging, especially for communities with limited connectivity. Teams developed national dissemination strategies, defining audiences, language priorities, message frequency, and roles.

We closed with a forward-looking discussion on continuity, how countries will keep collaboration active, share data consistently, and strengthen feedback loops between NFPs and fisher groups.

A productive two-day engagement and a solid step toward a more reliable and community-focused ocean safety advisory service for the Gulf of Guinea. Advisory flags (Red - Dangerous, Yellow - Rough, and Green - Calm) were given to the countries to be given and used by the fisherfolks of their home countries alongside some training to help them with WhatsApp usage.

African Union African Space Agency Regional Marine Centre irhob Bénin NIOMR Lagos Dr. Tidiane Ouattara

– Regional Training on WhatsApp Safety-at-Sea3 November 2025 | Lome, TogoThe Regional Marine Centre, in collaboratio...
13/11/2025

– Regional Training on WhatsApp Safety-at-Sea
3 November 2025 | Lome, Togo
The Regional Marine Centre, in collaboration with National Focal Points and fisher representatives across the Gulf of Guinea, opened the first day with strong participation and enthusiasm. A representative from the Ministry of Fisheries in Togo joined us, reinforcing the country’s commitment to safer seas and improved information flow to coastal communities.
The sessions covered the foundations of the h -at-Sea Service, national experiences with flag protocols, and the role of WhatsApp in widening access to timely advisories.
One of the key moments was the hands-on walkthrough of the WhatsApp dissemination workflow. Participants from Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, and Benin explored how advisories are transformed from ocean forecast processing into formatted text, audio, and flag cues, ready for distribution to fishing communities.
We also shared national flags used in the safety protocol and discussed how these visual cues align with WhatsApp-based messaging in day-to-day communication.
The conversations were practical, collaborative, and grounded in real field challenges. Day 2 will focus on localization, translation workflows, and national rollout strategies.
African Union African Space Agency Tidiane Ouattara

Day 2 of the FCWC & MarCNoWA Capacity-Building Training is underway in Lome, Togo!Participants from across the Gulf of G...
12/11/2025

Day 2 of the FCWC & MarCNoWA Capacity-Building Training is underway in Lome, Togo!

Participants from across the Gulf of Guinea are diving into:
🔹 Python & Jupyter Notebook for AIS data analysis
🔹 Case studies on detecting transshipment events
🔹 Integrating EO and AIS insights into national monitoring systems

This hands-on training strengthens regional capacity to monitor fisheries, respond to IUU fishing, and protect marine environments.

Day 1 Highlights on the Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response | Accra, Ghana | 11th November 2025The fi...
12/11/2025

Day 1 Highlights on the Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response | Accra, Ghana | 11th November 2025

The first day of the Regional Workshop on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response opened with strong participation from regional and international partners dedicated to improving marine protection and preparedness across Africa’s coastal states.

We were honored to welcome His Excellency Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Agency, who delivered a powerful keynote on the importance of Earth Observation and space technology in tackling environmental challenges.

Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS) and Director of the GMES & Africa Project at the University of Ghana, gave the welcome address, emphasizing the University’s leadership in advancing regional cooperation and innovation in ocean science.

Madam Joana Akrofi also delivered key remarks from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Mr. Barthelemy Jean Auguste BATIENO, the Regional Coordinator from the Abidjan Convention Secretariat, who both underscored the value of partnerships in building coordinated and effective oil spill response mechanisms.

National representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Guinea-Bissau shared insights on national experiences, existing monitoring systems, and key challenges in oil spill response.

The day concluded with an in-depth presentation on the institutional coordination and data-sharing mechanisms under the UNEP-Abidjan Convention framework, fostering dialogue on how countries can align their legal and operational systems for faster, cross-border response.

Tomorrow’s sessions will feature a live demonstration of the MarCNoWA Oil Spill Monitoring Service and practical exercises on Earth Observation–based spill detection and modeling.

Together, we are building the foundation for a collaborative, technology-driven approach to protecting Africa’s marine and coastal environments.

Regional Workshop and Training on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response11th – 13th November 2025 | Mensvic Grand Hotel, Accr...
12/11/2025

Regional Workshop and Training on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response
11th – 13th November 2025 | Mensvic Grand Hotel, Accra, Ghana

The Regional Marine Centre of the University of Ghana, under the GMES and Africa Project - Marine and Coastal Areas Management in North and West Africa (MarCNoWA) Project, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, GEMS Ocean Programme, and the ONU Environnement - Convention d’Abidjan, is hosting a regional workshop to strengthen oil spill monitoring and response capacities across Africa’s Atlantic coast.

This event will bring together environmental agencies, maritime authorities, research institutions, and industry partners to:

Build capacity on satellite-based oil spill detection and modeling

Enhance regional coordination and data-sharing mechanisms

Develop national and regional contingency frameworks

Advance marine environmental protection and sustainable coastal management

Through this collaboration, we aim to expand the MarCNoWA Oil Spill Monitoring Service, enabling faster detection, effective response, and stronger protection of marine ecosystems from Nigeria to Egypt.

Dr. Tidiane Ouattara | African Union | African Space Agency | Regional Marine Centre | Edenway Foundation | UN Environment Programme | Environnement - Convention d’Abidjan

Call for Proposals – Institutional Video Production for the MarCNoWA ProjectThe MarCNoWA Project, under the GMES & Afric...
02/11/2025

Call for Proposals – Institutional Video Production for the MarCNoWA Project

The MarCNoWA Project, under the GMES & Africa Programme, is inviting qualified audiovisual professionals and agencies to produce a 10-minute institutional video and short thematic clips that highlight how Earth Observation (EO) supports sustainable marine and coastal management in North and West Africa.

Deliverables:
🔹 10-minute bilingual English and French (EN/FR) institutional video
🔹 3 short clips (1–1.5 min) for social media
🔹 Editable versions for future use

Who Can Apply:
Professionals or agencies with at least 5 years’ experience in audiovisual production, storytelling, or science communication.

Deadline: 10 November 2025
Submit to: [email protected]
Copy: [email protected]
| [email protected]

Subject: Application for Video Production Consultancy – MarCNoWA Project

🔗 Full details here: https://orange-krill-rmxe.squarespace.com/news/f3fon1fxrntv4wlrxt0x1ygnsmyo1u

The Regional Marine Centre of the University of Ghana, in collaboration with the Marine and Coastal Areas Management for...
02/11/2025

The Regional Marine Centre of the University of Ghana, in collaboration with the Marine and Coastal Areas Management for North and West Africa (MarCNoWA), is hosting a Regional Training and User Engagement Workshop on the Ocean Safety-at-Sea Service (Flag System & WhatsApp Dissemination) from November 3rd to 4th, 2025, in Lomé, Togo.
This regional event brings together National Focal Points and fisher representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Liberia to strengthen communication systems that enhance the safety of artisanal fishers and coastal communities across the Gulf of Guinea.
Participants will learn how the MarCNoWA Ocean Safety Service leverages existing process flows and utilizes digital and local tools, including USSD, the Flag System, and WhatsApp, to deliver real-time ocean safety advisories and enhance decision-making at sea.
Together, we’re advancing digital inclusion and building safer, more informed coastal communities.
African Union African Space Agency UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON

Day 1 Highlights – FCWC Capacity-Building Training on the MarCNoWA Web PortalDay 1 of the Capacity-Building Training on ...
30/10/2025

Day 1 Highlights – FCWC Capacity-Building Training on the MarCNoWA Web Portal

Day 1 of the Capacity-Building Training on the Use of the MarCNoWA Web Portal for Enhanced Fisheries Monitoring concluded successfully at Onomo Hotel, Lome - Togo.

The session opened with remarks from a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Togo, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening fisheries monitoring and maritime governance with the use of Earth Observation data and AIS.

Participants from all FCWC member countries, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo, shared insightful presentations on their national operations, impacts, and key challenges in fisheries surveillance using different tools and services.

The MarCNoWA team introduced participants to the MarCNoWA Web Portal, showcasing its near real-time capabilities for:
🔷 Transshipment surveillance
🔷 Marine environmental monitoring.
The demonstration also explored how AIS raw data is processed and visualized to reveal maritime activities and support data-driven decision-making across the region.

Together, we’re building stronger regional capacity for effective and collaborative ocean monitoring in the Gulf of Guinea using EO data and AIS data.

Address

Legon

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 16:00

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Regional Marine Centre posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Regional Marine Centre:

Shortcuts

Share