Maritime and Related Offences Bill 2026 to combat piracy passed

Parliament has passed the Maritime and Related Offences Bill, 2026, to strengthen Ghana’s legal framework against piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime-related crimes.

The legislation seeks to prohibit piracy, robbery at sea and related offences while giving effect to the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and its related protocols.

According to the committee’s report on the Bill, the new law establishes a comprehensive legal regime for the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime offences.

The report noted that the legislation also aligns Ghana’s criminal laws on piracy with Articles 100 to 105 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It explained that the Gulf of Guinea has experienced increasing maritime insecurity over the past decade, including piracy, vessel hijackings, kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery at sea and the destruction of maritime property.

The committee said these crimes pose significant threats to maritime trade, regional stability, economic development and the safety of seafarers, making a stronger legal and institutional framework necessary.

The report observed that the absence of a dedicated legal framework on maritime offences had created enforcement and prosecutorial challenges in dealing with piracy and related crimes.

“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 said the legislation would strengthen Ghana’s maritime sector and ensure compliance with international conventions.

“This legal regime is critical to Ghana’s ambition of becoming a maritime hub in the Gulf of Guinea. By closing gaps in our maritime law, the Bill strengthens trade security and enhances state port control,” the report said.

It added that the legislation would reinforce investor confidence while protecting Ghana’s territorial waters and maritime economy.

“Most importantly, the Bill empowers security agencies to act decisively, thereby ensuring that offenders face justice while safeguarding the livelihoods of our seafarers,” the committee added.

The committee expressed its support for the legislation and urged Parliament to approve it without delay.

“The Committee, therefore, expresses its full support for this legislation and urge its swift passage to secure Ghana’s maritime future,” the report concluded.