The Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Initiative is expected to produce 20,000 MT of fish per annum, creating over 60,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The initiative will also contribute $46 million to Ghana’s annual gross domestic product (GDP).
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, disclosed this at the launch of the initiative in Gomoa Nsuaem on Tuesday.
She stated that the ministry has designed a skills training and entrepreneurship programme for the implementation of the initiative, aimed at bridging the gap between fish demand and supply, reducing fish imports, and providing viable employment opportunities for our youth and women.
“The Initiative is a well-structured modular training programme covering topics such as fish farming as a business, water quality management, feed management and marketing, ensuring that beneficiaries are well-prepared to succeed. At the end of the training, each beneficiary will receive a start-up package to ensure that the training they have received can immediately be put into practice,” she added.
Mrs Koomson noted that the programme would equip 10,000 beneficiaries with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to start and sustain viable aquaculture businesses across Ghana.
She said that the beneficiaries would receive support, including monthly supplies of fish feed and regular monitoring to ensure successful implementation. She disclosed that the initiative would be implemented in phases and would commence immediately with eight training teams moving to project districts to conduct training sessions.
“So far, we have developed an Aquaculture Handbook, manufactured 4,000 tarpaulin tanks, and produced 5,000 fingerlings and 100 MT of fish feed. Our next steps include commencing field deployment and ensuring continuous support and monitoring of our beneficiaries,” she noted.
The Minister extended her gratitude to R&B Farms the partners for the initiative, stakeholders, and dedicated teams for working together to make the project a reality, emphasising the importance of collaboration in revolutionising aquaculture in Ghana.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
