The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has underscored the importance of fisheries to Ghana’s economy and food security.
According to the union, Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector employs more than 2.5 million people, making it a significant contributor to the country’s GDP and job creation efforts.
Speaking at the IUF Africa Seafood Workers’ Division Conference in Accra, the Deputy General Secretary of GAWU, Andrew Tagoe, highlighted the critical role women play in fish processing, smoking, and marketing.
He noted that fisheries contribute about 1.2 percent to Ghana’s GDP, surpassing many other sectors.
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“The seafood sector is a vital lifeline for millions of households on our continent and indeed globally. It provides about 60 percent of the animal protein in the Ghanaian diet and is the main source of affordable protein,” Tagoe said.
He also warned of persistent threats such as fish stock depletion, unsafe working conditions, meagre incomes, child labour, and human trafficking.
“We are working to ensure that no child is trapped in fishing, no fisher works without dignity, and no worker lives in fear and poverty,” he added.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, reaffirmed Ghana’s ratification of the ILO Convention 188 to safeguard the sector.
She highlighted the passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146) as a landmark reform.
“The Act provides a modern legal framework to strengthen the governance and management of our fisheries resources, promote aquaculture as a reliable pillar of food security, and ensure compliance with international best practices,” she said.
SP/MA
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