The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has announced plans to cut the importation of fish into the country, pledging to adequately support local fish farmers to boost fish production. The Deputy Minister, Hon. Moses Anim, made this known at a dinner and Awards Night organized by the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana under the auspices of the Ministry and the Fisheries Commission.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Anim reiterated that the post-Covid era demands that countries increase their import substitution to survive. He emphasized that Ghana cannot generate foreign income for the purposes of importing fish, adding that if people want to import fish, they should look for forex to do that. He emphasized the need to increase production in aquaculture in Ghana and reduce the importation of fish.
According to him, the challenges in the sector can only be addressed by a collaborative effort between academia, researchers, and stakeholders. He called on researchers and academia to partner industry players in improving the sector. He revealed that he decided to keep some catfish, not for commercial purposes but to learn about the difficulties in the sector. He said that experiencing the challenges first hand has enlightened him and that stakeholders must work together to remove bottlenecks and make sure that the cost of production comes down.
The Chairperson of the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, Dr. Ruby Asmah, indicated that the maiden edition of the Aquaculture Awards was to acknowledge stakeholders that have survived the turbulence of the sector and industry players that have contributed to the recovery process. She highlighted the fact that the aquaculture sector in Ghana has had its ups and downs and that the most difficult period was when the disease outbreak occurred in 2018.
Dr. Asmah said the situation compelled some farmers to go down while others gradually recovered. To a lot of people, that appeared to be a critical moment. Some went down and never came up again, but others survived. She maintained that there is a need to critically observe players in the industry to support them. She expressed her delight at seeing the production figures going up again, adding that there are people in the background who have worked tirelessly to see the industry progress.
The announcement by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is a significant development in the efforts to boost local fish production in Ghana. With a growing population and increasing demand for fish, it is important for Ghana to reduce its reliance on imported fish and focus on developing its own aquaculture industry. The collaboration between academia, researchers, and industry players will go a long way in addressing the challenges in the sector and enhancing the contribution of aquaculture to Ghana’s economy.
BY :AGRIWATCH REPORTER
