Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has appealed to the government to formally accept and ratify the organisation’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies which was adopted by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June last year.

The agreement, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said sets new binding and multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks.

With about 12 million people in Africa feeding off the gains of fishing, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala indicated that it is important that African countries immediately rectify the agreement to help manage its fish resources.

According to Dr Okonjo-Iweala, she expects Ghana to expedite the ratification by June this year even though the deadline given to member countries is February next year where the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) will take place in the week of 26 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“One of the things I am going to ask your excellency and Mr.President is that Ghana should ratify the agreement as soon as possible. If you ratify it, there is also a fund called the Fisheries fund – we are raising US$20m and already US$7m has been pledged to help developing countries strengthen their management capacity to manage their fisheries. Many of our countries need strengthening.”
Dr Okonjo-Iweala

The Agreement prohibits support for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks, and ends subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas. “I want African countries to ratify this agreement faster, so Ghana can set an example and I hope Minister can help so by June, Ghana ratifies” she added.

Ms Okonjo-Iweala made the appeal when she called on the Ministry of Trade and Industry as part of her first official visit to Ghana, since taking office in March 2021. Her African tour is expected to take her to five other countries aside Ghana. Her next stop is Cote D’Ivoire. After that, she will visit Kenya, sand subsequently fly back to Geneva, Switzerland, before coming back to continue the tour.

Government Conscious of the Agreement

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, on his part, noted that government is conscious of the agreement and is making efforts to get it ratified in good time to enable the country access portion of the WTO’s US20m dollars fisheries fund to assist developing the country.

“We will do our best. Ghana takes seriously its responsibilities with these organisations and if there is this matter to recognize and ensure effective ratification and a smooth process, we assure you will we will do our best. As it is in our country, we will have to first ratify and incorporates the ratified document into our law for it to become effectively operational.

“The minister of fisheries will be notified about it, we will go to the president and discuss it with him. I am sure it will be ratified in good time for the next meeting.”
Kobina Tahir Hammond

Mr. Samuel Quartey, technical advisor at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture said the country is at the “planning stage and undertaking stakeholder engagement ” before it will be drafted and sent to Cabinet before onward transfer to parliament for approval.

However, before all these fine details are effected, Mr. Samuel Quartey noted that amendment needs to be made to the country’s Fisheries Act to be in tandem with WTO’s Fisheries Subsidies.

Mr. Samuel Quartey added that the fisheries Subsidies, when ratified, will help prevent over-exploitation and illegal vessels charting on the country’s oceans.

Meanwhile, there are 44 African countries who are members of the World Trade Organisation, with its purpose being the guardian of rules on how private sector trade with each other.