Seaweed Biorefinery Project Launched in Ghana

A project to use seaweed for the production of biofuel and pharmaceutical products has been launched in Ghana.

The project, a first of its kind in Africa, will establish the cultivation of seaweed along Ghana's coastline and establish technology, develop local know-how and bring new business opportunities. The project, led by experts from the Technical University of Denmark, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is also expected to tackle the energy needs of Ghana and beyond.

Dr. Moses Mensah, Ghana Coordinator for the project said locally-available enzymes will be used in the extraction of the materials from the seaweed which included anti-cancer, anti-tumor and immune-response chemicals.

Director of CSIR-Water Research Institute, Dr Joseph Addo Ampofo said, "Currently in Ghana, management of our coastlines is at a critical juncture. Even when it has to fulfill essential roles in promoting development, reducing poverty and conserving environment at the national, municipal and district levels, our shores are scarcely financially utilized, but congested, polluted, mismanaged, misgoverned and poorly cherished".

He is hopeful that the seaweed cultivation project would help to end the depletion of Ghana's coastlines since it has recently experienced an increase in the beaching of seaweed and has affected the livelihood of local fishermen.