Accra: Thirty fishers and industry stakeholders from Ghana's four coastal regions have completed training under the inaugural Small-Scale Fisheries Academy (SSF Academy) aimed at fostering dialogue and co-management within their fishing communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the two-day workshop assembled chief fishermen, canoe owners, fish processors, and Fisheries Commission officials to provide them with facilitation skills essential for community engagement and inclusive fisheries management. The SSF Academy, in collaboration with its partners, serves as a platform for fishers and industry players to address sector challenges and devise community-led solutions.
Madam Maua Fernanda Anaes and Mr. Anthony Acheampong led the participants through sessions on establishing local co-management structures, facilitating dialogue, and promoting inclusive decision-making. Prof. Benjamin Betey Campion, Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, emphasized the importance of moving beyond symptomatic treatments to address the root causes of challenges in the fisheries sector, ensuring that limited investments yield sustainable outcomes.
Prof. Campion highlighted the timeliness of the training, noting that effective facilitation skills would enable Fisheries Commission officers and community leaders to support co-management initiatives locally. He urged participants to initiate dialogues in their communities to enhance sanitation at landing beaches, restore fish stocks, and improve livelihoods.
Nana Kweigya, Partnership Manager for Blue Ventures-Ghana and National Coordinator of the SSF Academy, explained that the academy aims to tackle issues like illegal fishing, pollution, and unsanitary conditions through community involvement. Established through partnerships with Blue Ventures, Mundus Maris, and the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG), the academy complements government efforts to rejuvenate fisheries resources and safeguard livelihoods.
Nana Kweigya elaborated that the academy employs inclusive adult learning methods and promotes peer learning, enabling diverse actors in the fisheries value chain to collaboratively identify challenges and develop practical local solutions. He noted that the legal framework for fisheries co-management allows fishing communities to participate in decision-making, underscoring the importance of effective dialogue at the community level to achieve this goal.