The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has set a target for major transformation in aquaculture.
This involves her ministry’s advanced plans to expand fish farming as a year-round alternative to traditional fishing, as part of efforts to ensuring stable incomes for coastal communities and beyond.
According to the minister, this is a ‘game-changer’ to boost employment and food sustainability.
This came to light during a working visit to the Central Region, where the minister inspected R&B Farms, a Ghanaian-owned aquaculture venture spanning 32 hectares at Gomoa Nsuem.
Operating in partnership with the government’s Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme, the farm plays a crucial role in boosting local fish production and promoting sustainable practices in the industry.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm the government’s commitment to supporting the aquaculture sector, because of the importance of public-private collaboration to drive innovation and long-term profitability,” the minister said.
Emelia Arthur also provided update on the yet-to-be completed Anomabo Fisheries College, which she said is expected to enhance skills development and help curb post-harvest losses in fishing communities.
“When completed, the Anomabo Fisheries College would go a long way to enhance skills development in fisheries and also help tackle post-harvest losses,” the minister pointed out.
On his part, Benjamin Turkson, Director of Operations at R&B Farms, outlined the company’s vision of engaging young people in aquaculture early on, positioning it as a viable career option.
He urged the government to harness the industry’s potential to address youth unemployment and reduce reliance on environmentally-harmful activities such as illegal mining.
Adding his voice, Gomoa Central MP, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, encouraged young people in his constituency to embrace fish farming as a sustainable path to financial independence.
“I believe that the fisheries sector has very good prospects and that with the needed strategic investments and policy support, aquaculture could truly become a game-changer in Ghana’s quest for food security and job creation,” he emphasised.
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