Government is committed to growth and development of agriculture – Minister
Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Western Regional Minister has assured that the government would remain committed to the growth and development of the agricultural sector to ensure food security and sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices in the country.
He underscored the significant contributions of agriculture towards the socio-economic development of the country and that the government had resolved to support the sector to ensure that the sector played its role effectively.
Dr Afriyie gave the assurance when he launched a fisheries protection livelihood project dubbed “Far Ban Bo” at Fijai in the Western Region.
The European Union funded project with a four year life span would concentrate on issues such as; over fishing, unsustainable fishing practices including; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, low compliance and weak capacity for law enforcement within the sector.
It would also focus on tenure rights, security for the landing sites and pilot mechanisms for grievances and dispute resolution among the fisher groups.
The Regional Minister in this regard, urged all stakeholders and civil society organisations to build stronger collaboration for the sustainability of the sector adding, “It is only when that is done, that our fish stock within our territorial waters could be protected for sustainable fishing and aquaculture”.
He said the fishing sector contributed to about 4.5 per cent of Ghana’s GDP and also provided livelihoods to about 10 per cent of the population, about 2.5 million Ghanaians.
Mr Zakaria Yakubu, Project Coordinator for CARE Ghana-lead Consortium, who gave an overview of the “Far Ban Bo” project said the project would cover 30 districts in the Western, Central, Greater Accra and the Volta Regions and would work closely with key fisheries stakeholders in the Marine and inland fisheries sector.
He said other implementing partners included; the Friends of the Nation and Oxfam in collaboration with key fisheries stakeholders, Fisheries Commission and Fisheries Alliance.
Mr Yakubu said the expected outcome of the project would be the empowerment of small holder fishery associations to take active part in fisheries governance and effective monitoring and grievance mechanism.
The project would also contribute to improving livelihoods and nutritional status of small holder fishers and users of fishery resources through Social and Economic safeguards.
Ambassador Elkanah Odembo, Country Director of CARE International, lauded the project stressing that initiatives such as the “Far Ban Bo” project could be a good avenue to promote sustainable live-saving interventions.
Source: GNA