Ghana is leading renewed efforts to promote transparent and sustainable fisheries governance in West Africa as it hosts the Regional Workshop on Advancing FiTI Implementations in Anglophone Africa in Accra.
Held under the theme “Sustainable Marine Fisheries Through Transparency and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration,” the workshop brought together representatives from Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, development partners, fisheries governance experts, and civil society organisations to discuss strategies for strengthening accountability and sustainability within the fisheries sector.
The event opened with remarks by Dr. Godfred Ameyaw Asiedu, Regional Coordinator Anglophone Anglophone Africa FiTI, followed by Ms. Johanna Klotz, Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. The keynote address was delivered by Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture. on Ghana’s commitment to enhancing sustainable fisheries.
A documentary titled “2015–2025: A Decade of Transparency in Marine Fisheries” was screened during the opening session, setting the tone for discussions on transparency, accountability, and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Participants also engaged in a partner dialogue session themed “From Commitment to Practice: Partner Dialogue on Transparency in Fisheries Management,” which provided a platform for countries and stakeholders to exchange experiences and explore how transparency can improve decision-making, strengthen accountability, and attract investment into the fisheries sector.
Delivering her keynote address, Hon. Emelia Arthur stressed that fisheries remain central to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of African societies.
According to her, nearly 10 percent of Ghana’s population depends on the fisheries value chain for their livelihoods, while fish accounts for approximately 60 percent of the country’s animal protein intake.
She identified illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, climate change, habitat degradation, declining fish stocks, and weak governance systems as some of the major threats confronting the sector.
“These challenges cannot be solved through political declarations alone. They require informed decisions, strong institutions, credible data, and inclusive governance systems that command public trust,” she stated.
The Minister reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to implementing the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), disclosing that the country is making significant progress toward submitting its FiTI implementing country application.
She also commended Liberia and Sierra Leone for advancing fisheries transparency efforts and called for stronger regional cooperation to address shared challenges affecting marine resources.
Representing the German Development Cooperation and the German Embassy in Accra, Ms. Johanna Klotz highlighted Ghana’s planned Fisheries Information System as a major milestone toward achieving more transparent, accountable, and participatory fisheries governance.
The workshop is expected to strengthen partnerships, deepen peer learning, and accelerate efforts toward sustainable and accountable fisheries governance across Anglophone Africa.
Source: businesspostonline
