The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA) has taken a major step toward transforming Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector following high-level strategic discussions with the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS), China’s leading national fisheries research institution.
The engagement, led by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur (MP), forms part of the Government of Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+), which aims to strengthen food security, create jobs, expand exports and enhance industrial competitiveness through strategic international partnerships.
The meeting, held at the headquarters of CAFS in Beijing, brought together senior officials from MoFA, the 24H+ Secretariat, and key Ghanaian economic institutions, alongside the leadership and technical directors of CAFS.
Fisheries and Aquaculture as a National Priority
Addressing the meeting, Hon. Emelia Arthur reaffirmed that fisheries and aquaculture are central to Ghana’s development agenda, contributing significantly to food and nutrition security, employment creation, export earnings and the sustainable development of the Blue Economy.
She outlined government’s vision to build a resilient, science-driven and well-governed sector, supported by modern technology, strong institutions and data-led decision-making.
“The Ministry is deliberately pursuing research-led partnerships that will strengthen Ghana’s capacity across aquaculture expansion, fisheries resource management, disease control, value addition and human capital development,” the Minister stated.
Deepening Ghana–China Cooperation
The engagement builds on the 66-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Ghana and China, with fisheries and aquaculture identified as a priority area for long-term cooperation.
CAFS, which operates under China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, showcased its extensive capacity, including 14 specialised research institutes, nearly 5,000 scientists and technical experts, advanced research vessels and laboratories, and cooperation programmes in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Key Areas of Collaboration
Discussions focused on several priority areas, including aquaculture and mariculture development, capture fisheries and resource management, fish disease control and biosecurity, capacity building, and fisheries infrastructure and value chain development.
Proposed collaborations include marine fish farming systems, inland and coastal cage farming, joint fish stock assessments, strengthened data systems, climate resilience measures, postgraduate training programmes, and support for fish processing and cold-chain infrastructure.
Next Steps
MoFA will lead the next phase of engagement, which includes drafting a Framework Memorandum of Understanding with CAFS, identifying priority joint research programmes, planning CAFS technical missions to Ghana, and establishing structured training and scholarship pipelines.
A joint working group involving MoFA, CAFS and the 24H+ Secretariat is expected to be established by February 2026, with pilot projects targeted for rollout by mid-2026.
Strategic Impact
The engagement positions fisheries and aquaculture as a strategic pillar of Ghana–China cooperation, aligned with national food security goals, export expansion under the AfCFTA framework, research-driven policy development and sustainable Blue Economy growth.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that international partnerships deliver tangible benefits for fishers, fish farmers, processors and coastal communities across Ghana.
