The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in Ghana, Dr. Brahim Kebe, has disclosed that Ghana has the capacity to generate revenue of about over $1 billion every year, through the production of fish, provided factors militating against the sector are eliminated.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf, at the launching of the embossment of canoe registration numbers at Tema, last Friday. “It is estimated that Ghana’s domestic fisheries production of 440,000 metric tones, can generate revenue in the order of one billion dollars annually. Ghana fisheries contribute 4.5% to annual Gross Domestic Production (GDP), and indirectly supports the livelihoods of 2.2 million people or 10% of the population,” he explained.

Unfortunately, the economic benefits available from these fisheries are being drained away, as it costs more to catch and manage fisheries in Ghana, than it brings into the economy.

He hinted that the FAO considers the launching of the embossment of the canoes registration numbers as one critical important step in the management process, and urged all stakeholders to give it the necessary support, so that all the 12,000 plus canoes that operate in the country are duly registered.

Delivering the welcome address, Nii Armah Ashittey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, urged the fishermen to unite and organise themselves into producer associations, so that they can acquire the needed skills to effectively market their produce, for a greater share of their production.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to scale up agriculture production in the country, stressing that the government had shown commitment and readiness to raise agriculture growth to at least (6%) per year.

He added that the government, in subsequent years, would increase investments in agriculture by a minimum of 10 percent of the national budget, which would be more than the four percent average committed to the sector previously.

Nii Amasah Namoale, deputy Minister in charge of Fisheries, noted that the exercise would help the government to know how many canoes are in the country, to enable it include them in policy formulation, and also to regulate the activities of canoes to avoid accidents.

He called on all canoe owners in the various fishing communities in Ghana, to begin to register and emboss their canoes at the offices of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture within their areas.

Source: Chronicle

Tags: fish production, Food and Agriculture Organisation, tema