The President made the disclosure in his remarks at the maiden National Chief Fisherman and Fishmongers Conference in Accra.
This he said has been captured in the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government.
The event on the theme, “Resettling Fisheries – Chief Fishermen and Fishmongers, has Guardians and Partners in Sustainable Fisheries Management”, was attended by chief fishermen and queen fishmongers from the four coastal regions – Western, Central, Greater Accra and Volta.
The event was oganised with support from Bloom Ocean Initiative, Blue Ventures and Ocean 5, sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
President Mahama also indicated that the request for a fish market in Accra by fisherfolks would also receive favourable response from the Government.
“My dear Chief Fisherman and Queen Fishmongers, the future of Ghana’s fisheries depends on what we collectively commit to today,” he stated.
“I therefore urge you to champion responsible fishing practices, lead community education and discipline, work closely with enforcement agencies, support peace, unity and elimination of illegal practices, and stand firm as guardians of our marine resources.”
Regarding exemption from close season fishing, he said artisanal fishers were exempted from the close season and that he encouraged them to reciprocate the gesture by not doing anything illegal during the closed season.
The President said the Government was also in the process of acquiring two new offshore patrol vessels for the Ghana Navy to be patrolling the nation’s coast.
He announced that the Government was also going to launch an initiative for clean beaches and that the fishers were going to be involved.
“We are going to employ people to clean the beaches and make sure that we keep our beaches clean. So, you can give us your youth, we are going to employ them, and we will pay them the monthly allowance.”
Madam Emelia Arthur, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced that the President had approved for the provision of a pickup vehicle and a bus for the Fishermen’s Council.
The Ga Mantse, Nii Tachie Teiko Tsuru, said the Government’s transformative agenda and resetting the fisheries industry would demand promoting compliance, safeguarding traditional norms, supporting responsible use of marine resources and to safeguard the nation’s prospects.
Source: GNA
