The Vice President of the Republic, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has paid a working visit to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to review the Ministry’s mandate, assess progress made in 2025, and align future priorities with the Government’s National Reset Agenda.
She was warmly received by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, alongside management and staff of the Ministry. The engagement provided an opportunity for the Ministry to present a comprehensive briefing on its achievements over the past year and outline strategic interventions planned for 2026 to reposition Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector as a sustainable and resilient driver of national development.
In a detailed presentation, the Ministry highlighted several key policy, legislative, and institutional milestones achieved in 2025. Notable among them was the passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), which strengthens the legal framework for sustainable fisheries management. The Ministry also reported the development and approval of the National Blue Economy Strategy, aimed at unlocking the economic potential of Ghana’s ocean, coastal, and inland water resources.
Further reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to sustainable fisheries governance, the Ministry announced the ratification of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, a move intended to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Another major milestone was the approval for the establishment of Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Greater Cape Three Points Area, a significant step toward biodiversity conservation and the protection of critical fish stocks.
Progress was also recorded in inland fisheries and human capacity development. The Ministry disclosed that a draft Inland Fisheries Management Plan has been developed, while work on the Anomabo Fisheries College is about 70 per cent complete, including the preparation of its draft curriculum and governance structure. In addition, 351 Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) were reconstituted and inaugurated nationwide to strengthen community-level governance in the fisheries sector.
To support artisanal fishers, the Ministry supplied 28,755,500 litres of premix fuel to landing beach committees across marine and inland fisheries between February and November 2025. It also onboarded five additional Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) and facilitated the payment of GH₵91.2 million in legacy under-recovery debts owed to BDCs. The number of automated premix fuel dispensing sites was further expanded from 42 to 57 nationwide.
Other interventions highlighted included the establishment of the Blue Economy Commission, procurement and distribution of approved fishing nets and outboard motors, resourcing of the Fisheries Enforcement Unit, and the construction of regional and zonal offices of the Fisheries Commission.
The Ministry also underscored its collaboration with international development partners, including Oceana, Blue Ventures, Ocean 5, Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, and the University of British Columbia, among others, in advancing sustainable fisheries management and ocean governance.
Commending the Ministry for the breadth of work undertaken, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the critical role of fisheries and aquaculture in food security, job creation, and economic growth. She urged the Ministry to sustain innovation, transparency, and stakeholder engagement to ensure the sector delivers tangible benefits under the National Reset Agenda.
The visit reaffirmed Government’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and economically vibrant fisheries and aquaculture sector for the benefit of present and future generations.
