Ghana Records Fish Deficits

OUT OF Ghana's total annual fish requirement of 880,000 tonnes, the nation is only able to produce 420,000, leaving a huge deficit of 460,000 tonnes.

To make up for this deficit, the country has resorted to importation of fish products from Morocco, Angola and Mauritania.

Despite the availability of vast expanse of water resources and ideal climate conditions, challenges such as poor landing sites, post-harvest losses and low investment in the fishing industry, serve as hindrances to the development of the sector.

Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, speaking yesterday at the inauguration of the first Fisheries Commission in Accra, attributed part of the problem to the poor equipment base of fisher-folks evident by the deteriorating fishing vessels with poor engines, without fish finders which makes it expensive to run and therefore ineffective to operate as a business.

Low investment in the industry has also led to distressing conditions and extreme poverty in fishing communities.

As part of measures to address the situation and challenges, the minister said government is sourcing a $128 million loan from China for the construction of two fishing harbours and 12 landing sites in the country.

The Spanish government is also providing a seven million Euro facility for the construction of six cold stores in some selected fishing communities.

Mrs. Asmah announced that Chinese companies are to partner Ghana in setting up a huge aquaculture farm at Asemasa in the Western Region to produce fingerlings for out-growers and companies for both domestic and export markets.

The fisheries sector accounts for 4.5 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is a source of livelihood for about 10 percent of the people as well as providing about 60 percent of the animal needs of the Ghanaian consumer.

The 10-member Commission with J. Adumua-Bossman, an aquaculture consultant as the chairman, is set up in accordance with the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625) and the country's 1992 Constitution which requires the establishment of Commissions as determined by Parliament with responsibility for co-ordination of policies, regulation and management of the country's natural resources.

The other members of the group are Dr. Rose Emma- Mamaa Entsa-Mensah, Senior Research Scientist and Head of Fisheries Division of the Water Research Institute; Kwabena Boateng, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority; Flt. Lt. M. G. Tackie (Rtd), Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority; Jonathan Addo Allotey, Environment Protection Council; and John Adeabah Mensah, Marine Engineer.

The rest are Vincent Kwamitse Kaledzi, Chairman of the Canoe Fisheries Council; Commodore G. M. Biekro, representative of the Ministry of Defence; and Alfred Tetebo, Director of the Fisheries Directorate.