The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development embarked on a three-day visit to the Ashanti Region to ascertain the progress of their initiative Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ).
The team led by the deputy Minister of the sector, Kingsley Ato Cudjoe, who is also responsible for overseeing the operations of the inland fishing engaged with some youth groups, institutions, schools and fish farming associations.
According to the Fisheries Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in their Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profiles, Ghana’s aquaculture production for the year 2018 is 76, 360. And experts say we need to develop the inland fishing vibrantly to augment the whole fisheries sector.
Notwithstanding the significant contribution of providing fish food to the citizens, it also helps to scale-up businesses and employment within the value chain.
The minster engaged and interacted with some fish processors and traders. His entourage also visited the Osei Tutu Senior High School in Kumasi, hatchery facility and grow-out fingerlings facility for the supply of fingerlings at Kona Odumasi.
These have ponds filled with catfish and tilapia which the minister inspected.
Indeed, the Government had anchored many improvements in the economic livelihood of fishers and is determined to drastically reduce rural poverty to improve their living standard.
The government has also initiated some social, economic and infrastructural investments in marine fishing sector.
Theses are: (i) the sod-cutting of the expansion of the Elmina Fishing Harbour, (ii) construction of 6 landing sites in the Western and Central Regions, (iii) construction of the Jamestown Fishing Harbour Complex to be completed in 2 years, (iv) Anomabo Fisheries College (on-going) and the Anloga Landing site which is completed.
Others are the provision of 1,300 outboard motors at subsidized prices to boost the operations of Marine Fishers and efficient and regular supply of Premix Fuel to the various landing sites.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
