"Let’s protect our Oceans through Innovation" Prof. George Wiafe, in Commemoration of World Oceans Day 2020

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Prof, George Wiafe addresses the World on the World Oceans Day 2020


Earth is oftentimes referred to as the Blue Planet for the simple reason that two-thirds of its surface is covered by the oceans and it’s fitting to recognize this fact with a celebration. The United Nations has declared 2021 – 2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development with a clarion call to world leaders to help protect 30% of the blue planet by the end of the decade.

Prof. George Wiafe, University of Ghana

For coastal countries in the ECOWAS region, mobilizing the needed resources to help protect the oceans might be a daunting task given the diverse economic challenges confronting us. However, with the advent of open source systems and processes, anyone can leverage technological advancement to help solve problems that hitherto, were only addressed by developed nations. It is with this notion that the University of Ghana Consortium of the GMES and Africa Project is pushing the agenda of youth innovation and entrepreneurship. This programme, dubbed “OpenHackTech”, encourages the youth to use open source tools to tackle environmental issues such as plastic and oil pollution, Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, piracy, among others. The Project successfully organized an innovation challenge for individuals and start-up companies last year and has concluded a Digital Art Competition to mark this year’s World Oceans Day.

A view of the Sea

The debate as to whether life originated in the ocean or land is immaterial in as much as our oceans hold the key to continued life on earth. Global climate change and its variability is largely influenced by the oceans; there is more life and enormous non-living resources within the oceans than on land. Transportation of goods between countries is facilitated better across oceans than air. And for centuries, humans have beheld the beauty and mystery of the blue planet and been enthralled by it. Therefore, a call to help protect this ecosystem must not be seen as the responsibility of only the ones in authority, but by all! It is a time to reflect and ask how best to be a responsible citizen of the world, of the Blue Planet.

 A view of the Sea

No matter where we live on this planet, no matter how far one is from the sea, we are impacted one way or the other by the oceans and we have to work together to appreciate and protect this resource. During this sad period of COVID-19 pandemic, my appeal is to protect the oceans just as we strive to protect our lives. This is possible when we collaborate in knowledge sharing and tap into the unlimited potential that sets us above all other creatures, and use it to bring innovations that ensure harmonious living on this Blue Planet.

Happy Oceans Day 2020!

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