Artisanal fishers in Ghana have called on President John Dramani Mahama to revoke offshore gold exploration licences granted to Gold Coast GRC Ghana Ltd, saying suspension alone is not enough.

In a press statement signed by Nana Kwamena Sankah for and on behalf of the fishing communities, the fishers including chief fishermen, canoe owners, fishing crews, fish processors and traders, expressed gratitude to the President for his decision to suspend the offshore gold exploration activities of the company.

The group said while they welcome the suspension, they remain deeply concerned about the reported ten offshore reconnaissance licenses covering approximately 10,000 square kilometres of Ghana's marine waters.

"We are particularly troubled that artisanal fishing communities, whose livelihoods stand to be directly affected, were not adequately consulted before these activities were initiated," the statement said.

The fishers said they have taken note of the serious concerns raised by the Fisheries Commission, scientists and civil society organizations regarding the potential impact of offshore gold exploration and, should it proceed, exploitation.

The statement stressed that the ocean is not a liquid desert waiting to be exploited but a living ecosystem that sustains fishing families and coastal communities.

"Our ocean is not a liquid desert waiting to be exploited. It is a living ecosystem that sustains fishing families, fish processors, traders and coastal communities whose livelihoods, food security and cultural heritage depend on healthy fish stocks and productive marine ecosystems."

"For generations, our communities have depended on the sea for food, employment and survival. Our fishing grounds are not simply places where we work; they are a living inheritance that we have a responsibility to protect and pass on to future generations."

They warned that activities that damage marine habitats, disrupt fish populations or restrict access to fishing grounds risk turning a living ocean into a liquid desert.

"We cannot accept a future in which our children inherit the consequences of decisions made today at the expense of their livelihoods and their right to a healthy, productive ocean," the fishers said.

The group made five key demands to the President:

1. Revoke the offshore reconnaissance licenses granted to Gold Coast GCR Ghana Ltd. and abandon plans for offshore gold exploration and exploitation.

2. Protect the Inshore Exclusion Zone from seabed mineral exploration and extraction.

3. Safeguard sensitive marine ecosystems, including the Greater Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area.

4. Uphold the rights and voices of artisanal fishing communities by ensuring their meaningful consultation and participation in decisions affecting their fishing grounds.

5. Put the long-term sustainability of Ghana's fisheries and food security first.

According to the fishers, suspension alone does not provide the lasting certainty that fishing communities need.

"We welcome the President's decision to suspend these activities as an important first step. However, suspension alone does not provide the lasting certainty that fishing communities need. We call for a clear and definitive decision to revoke the licenses and protect Ghana's coastal waters for the benefit of present and future generations.”

"Our message is clear: the ocean is our life, our heritage and our future. We cannot allow the destruction of the natural wealth that sustains our communities today and that our children will need tomorrow."