Fisheries Minister launches nationwide inland fisheries tour

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs. Emelia Arthur, has launched a six-day nationwide tour of inland fisheries communities, signalling a firm policy direction that public investments must deliver measurable results or be fixed, replaced, or decommissioned.

The tour, which began in the Dangme East Zone of the Greater Accra Region, forms part of the Ministry’s effort to assess the state of fisheries infrastructure across the country, engage communities directly, and anchor upcoming policy decisions in the lived realities of fishing households.

Madam Arthur inspected an ice-making plant at the Ningo-Prampram District, established in 2012 that has remained non-operational, without electricity supply or active management. She directed an immediate technical audit to determine whether the facility should be rehabilitated or decommissioned.

“Public investments must work for the people. Where they are not working, we will fix them. Where they cannot be fixed, we will replace them,” she stated.

She visited the Lower Prampram Landing Beach, where she commended fishers for their adherence to fishing regulations and their rejection of illegal practices. Fishers, however, appealed for the construction of a safer landing site, citing hazards posed by high tides.

In the Ada East District, she met with clam harvesters, processors and stakeholders who raised concerns over limited access to credit, inadequate supply of premix fuel, a shortage of outboard motors, and the absence of modern processing and market facilities.

Data presented during the engagement underscored the economic significance of the clam industry. At the Agorkpo community, approximately 60 canoes and 150 fishers are active, while Kponkpo has 110 canoes and 225 fishers. More than 200 women are engaged in processing, with some also participating directly in harvesting.

Across 14 communities along the Volta River, including Azizanya, Pediatorkope, and Azizakpe, inland fisheries support the harvest of tilapia, catfish, grey mullet, shrimps, and crabs.

Clam fishing alone provides direct employment for approximately 500 people, with over 700 more employed indirectly. During peak periods, up to 50 canoes land clams daily, each carrying approximately 60 sacks. Weekly landings reach an estimated 18,000 sacks roughly 1.62 million kilograms with an estimated market value of between GH₵1.35 million and GH₵2.25 million.

Stakeholders raised serious concerns over increasing land reclamation activities and the sale of waterfront lands in clam production areas. They warned that such encroachments pose direct threats to critical aquatic habitats and the long-term sustainability of the industry.

Madam Arthur noted that the issues raised would be formally tabled for deliberation at the upcoming Inland Fisheries Conference.

She emphasised that policy decisions must be grounded in the actual conditions and challenges faced by fishing communities.

She added that findings from the tour would directly inform the Ministry’s policy and investment priorities for the inland fisheries sector.