Beijing: The government has intensified its strategic fisheries partnership with China to bridge Ghana's estimated US$800 million fish supply deficit. The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), led by sector minister Emelia Arthur, recently facilitated a high-level meeting between Ghana and China, aiming to bolster bilateral cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture. This initiative is expected to enhance food security, create jobs, and promote a sustainable blue economy.
According to Ghana Web, the engagement took place in Beijing, where the sector minister met with Han Jun, Secretary of the Communist Party of China's Leadership Group, and officials from China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA). During the meeting, MoFAD presented a comprehensive Ghana-China Fisheries Partnership Framework that outlines Ghana's vision for a sustainable, resilient, and investment-ready fisheries and aquaculture sector. This framework aims to support national development while protecting aquatic ecosystems.
Emelia Arthur emphasized that fisheries and aquaculture are central to Ghana's food security and economic transformation agenda. She disclosed that Ghana's annual fish demand is 1.28 million metric tonnes, while domestic production is about 684,000 metric tonnes, resulting in a supply deficit of approximately 590,000 metric tonnes, valued between US$600-800 million annually. Key marine stocks, including sardinella, are depleted to 13.8 percent of sustainable levels. Consequently, the government is focusing on aquaculture to drive future growth in the sector, with a national production target of 177,000 metric tonnes by 2027.
At the meeting, Arthur highlighted Ghana's vast natural resources, including Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake, which is currently utilized at less than five percent. This presents significant opportunities for aquaculture expansion, especially tilapia production, due to favorable year-round water temperatures. The ministry identified several investment opportunities for Chinese enterprises, including fish feed manufacturing, SPF hatcheries, cold chain infrastructure, and modern fish processing facilities.
Post-harvest losses currently range between 25-50 percent in inland fisheries and 10-20 percent for marine fisheries, with deep processing remaining below 10 percent. The minister noted the significant opportunities for large-scale fillet or surimi processing capacity in the country. Potential investors were assured of flexible investment models, such as wholly-owned ventures, joint ventures, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and technology licensing, supported by Free Zones incentives, including tax holidays, duty exemptions, and unrestricted profit repatriation.
MoFAD reaffirmed its commitment to leading a science-driven, investment-ready, and inclusive transformation of Ghana's fisheries and aquaculture sector in collaboration with strategic international partners.