Accra, July 24, 2025 – The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, has reaffirmed government’s strong commitment to building a sustainable and inclusive fisheries sector during a high-level stakeholder workshop organized by the Accountability Research Center (ARC) at the AH Hotel in East Legon, Accra.
The workshop, themed “Advancing Sustainable Fisheries and Fisher Organizing Initiatives in Ghana,” brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, fisher folk associations, labour unions, civil society organizations, and international experts.
Organized as part of ARC’s Fisher Learning Exchange series, the event served as a platform to present findings from a six-country study on fisher-led organizing efforts and grassroots innovations aimed at sustaining both fisheries and the livelihoods of those who depend on them. The initiative, led by the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C., seeks to bridge research with community experiences to foster transparency, accountability, and participatory governance in fisheries management.
In her keynote address, Hon. Emelia Arthur underscored the vital importance of the fisheries sector to Ghana’s economy, pointing to its significant contribution to employment, GDP, foreign exchange generation, and food and nutrition security.
“The fisheries sector remains a pillar of our national development,” the Minister noted. “But to safeguard its future, we must work collaboratively to combat the growing threat of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which continues to undermine our sustainability efforts and deprive the nation of critical resources.”
Hon. Arthur took the opportunity to announce the recent passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025, a landmark legislation that enhances regulatory compliance, introduces modern monitoring mechanisms, and places the welfare of fisher folk at the heart of sectoral reforms.
“This new law is a testament to our unwavering commitment to a resilient, equitable, and future-proof fisheries and aquaculture sector,” she stated.
The Minister also praised the ARC and its partners for fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange, which she described as essential for inclusive and responsive policymaking. She called for continuous collaboration among stakeholders to build a transparent and well-governed fisheries sector that leaves no one behind.
The workshop concluded with a panel discussion featuring leading voices from academia, fisher groups, and development agencies, including Professor Benjamin Betey Campion, Ag. Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, who highlighted the importance of empowering fisherfolk to take ownership of sustainability efforts through capacity building and policy participation.
The event marks another milestone in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to reform its fisheries sector in alignment with global sustainability goals and community-centered development.
source:www.senaradioonline.com
