The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson has called for modernization in the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector to boost its value chain, according to her, Ghana’s Aquaculture is a fast-growing sub-sector which has the potential to attract significant level of investment from the private sector.

The country is well endowed with many rivers and wetlands with suitable soils and landscape for aquaculture production all year round. However, she said the development of the sector is constrained by a number challenges such as limited access to quality fingerlings, high cost of fish feed and low investment from the private sector.

Speaking at the 17th Edition of the Confederation of Indian Industry Exim Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership held in New Delhi India this year, the minister elaborated the challenges that have plagued the fisheries industry in Ghana and stifling the country’s goal of being among the leading names in the fisheries and aquaculture in Africa and beyond.

She stressed on the growth and diversification of Ghana’s fisheries sector from the use of traditional and simple technology to a modernized sector through the development of infrastructure to establishing a strong value chain and enhancing productivity.  This the Minister believes will enhance the growth of the sector and its contribution to job creation.

She revealed that the Government of Ghana is promoting aquaculture development through the implementation of a project called “Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ). AFJ is aimed at augmenting fish production from the capture fisheries and create additional jobs along the aquaculture value chain. She also mentioned that her ministry has collaborated with other relevant Government Agencies and Development Partners to certify fish processors under a Class 1 Certification Scheme. The Class Certification Scheme is to ensure that fish is produced under good hygienic conditions using safer smoking techniques for both local and export markets.

The certification is also to help the fish processors sell their products at premium prices at various supermarkets and for export to the international market.   In the area of Fish Harvesting and Fish Processing. The Minister mentioned Ghana’s collaboration with the Indian Exim Bank to fully operationalize Phase II Improved Fish Harvesting and Fish Processing Project.

The CII Exim Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership event is held annual to discuss diverse issues relating to India- Africa relations. This year’s event focused on the strategic role of India-Africa partnership in changing geo-political scenario, strengthening bilateral engagements and discussing emerging economic opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture including fisheries.