The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) hosted the United Nations Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas to review Ghana’s progress in protecting the livelihoods of coastal and rural communities.
The meeting formed part of the UN’s official mission to assess how Ghana is implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Rural Workers.
Strengthening the Legal Framework
Representing the Sector Minister, Hon. Emelia Arthur, the Director of Administration, Madam Rosemary Abbey, highlighted the pivotal role of the newly enacted Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146).
The Act serves as a robust shield for the industry, specifically designed to combat illegal fishing with measure to prohibit destructive methods like light fishing, chemical use, and monofilament nets.
The Act also protect resources by ensuring sustainable exploitation of marine life through ecosystem-based management, and empowering communities through the enhancement and participation of local fishers in decision-making processes.
Enforcement and Sustainability
The UN delegation praised Ghana’s proactive stance against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Discussions centered on the enforcement of the Inshore Exclusion Zone, a critical measure to protect small-scale fishers from large industrial trawlers.
Madam Abbey acknowledged that while resource gaps exist, the Ministry is making significant strides through the Fisheries Enforcement Unit, Landing Beach Enforcement Committees and new regulations that enables the Fisheries Commission to develop specific guidelines on gear mesh sizes, fishing seasons, and landing requirements to ensure long-term sector stability.
A Commitment to Livelihoods
The UN Working Group commended the collaborative spirit between the government and stakeholders, noting that the fisheries sector remains a backbone of Ghana’s rural economy.
The Ministry reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring that the growth of the aquaculture industry does not come at the expense of the rights and welfare of the rural workers who sustain it.
Source: businesspostonline
