Adnan Adams Mohammed
President John Mahama has reinforced commitment to improving conditions of the fisheries sector.
During the State of the Nation Address, last week, the President indicated that the government will implement strategic interventions to enhance productivity and sustainability.
Key among the initiatives is the continued enforcement of measures to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which threatens marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of our hardworking fisherfolk. However, he noted that the Fisheries Commission has intensified surveillance and monitoring operations bolstered by the deployment of modern technology and strengthened collaboration with key stakeholders.
“In the last month, we have expanded the supply of subsidized premix fuel to support artisanal and industrial fishers, ensuring affordability and availability”, President Mahama told parliament. “We will also invest further in modern fish landing sites and cold storage facilities to improve post-harvest handling, reduce losses, and enhance the quality of fish products.”
Also, aquaculture development is a key focus of the current administration.
“We will provide financial and technical support to fish farmers, increasing local fish production and reducing our dependence on imported fish.”
To increase value addition in the sector, the government plans tol encourage the establishment of fish processing facilities, create more jobs and boost exports. Our commitment to supporting women in fisheries remains steadfast as we implement programmes to empower female fish processors and traders with financial resources and capacity-building initiatives.
