The Executive Director of the Blue Economy and Governance Consult Mr Richster Nii Armah Amarfio, a representative of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Political Parties Dialogue aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Ghana’s fisheries sector.
Mr. Amarfio’s address laid out a strategic vision to rebuild the country’s fisheries industry, underscoring the party’s commitment to restore the degraded coastal and inland fishing resources while instituting sustainable practices for the future. Mr. Amarfio began by stating the NDC’s emphasis on encouraging compliance with fishing regulations rather than focusing solely on enforcement. He stressed that fishermen should be motivated to adhere to the laws, with enforcement being a last resort.
“Our agenda is to push for compliance more than enforcement, because it’s better when the fishermen are complying than when you are just enforcing. Enforcement will be a last resort, but we will push more for compliance.”
Mr. Richster Nii Armah Amarfio the Executive Director of the Blue Economy and Governance Consult
This statement highlighted the NDC’s belief in working closely with the fishing community to foster better collaboration rather than relying on punitive measures. One of the critical areas of focus in Mr. Amarfio’s address was the issue of premix fuel distribution, which has long been plagued by allegations of corruption. Amarfio assured that under the NDC government, there would be a thorough investigation into illegal and corrupt practices within the premix fuel value chain.
“His Excellency John Mahama in the NDC government will investigate all illegal and corrupt practices within the premix value chain and make sure that premix is handed over to fishermen and regulated in terms of its management.”
Mr. Richster Nii Armah Amarfio the Executive Director of the Blue Economy and Governance Consult
This pledge signifies the party’s determination to reform the premix fuel distribution system to ensure fairness and transparency.
Revitalizing the Tuna Industry
Mr. Amarfio also pointed out the challenges in the tuna industry, particularly the underutilization of resources. He noted that only 4 out of the 20 pole and line tuna vessels are currently active. Reviving this sector is a priority for the NDC, as tuna is one of the country’s major exports. He reiterated; “We have a special need in the tuna industry. Currently, we have 20 pole-and-line tuna vessels, but only 4 are active. We need to bring them back to life.”
By reinvigorating this critical sector, the NDC aims to boost Ghana’s tuna exports and support the livelihoods of those involved in the industry. The devastation of Ghana’s inland water bodies due to illegal mining (galamsey) was another key point addressed by Amarfio. He acknowledged the damage caused by galamsey and the urgent need to restore the water bodies.
“The inland fishing sector will be protected from further damage because Galamsey has destroyed almost all our inland water bodies. We need to first restore our water bodies to build a sustainable inland fishing sector.”
Mr. Richster Nii Armah Amarfio the Executive Director of the Blue Economy and Governance Consult
Mr. Amarfio emphasized the importance of creating a market in Accra for inland fish, which has high value but faces logistical challenges. He noted; “We need to create a better market so that women who bring fish to Accra will not have the challenges that they have. They can sell their fish and add better value to it.”
Science-Led Fisheries Management
A significant part of the NDC’s plan involves adopting a science-based approach to fisheries management. Amarfio outlined plans to introduce a research vessel and make grants available to fisheries scientists and experts.
“We want to have a science-led fisheries management. Collaborative fisheries research and management is the basic principle for which we are going to rebuild our fisheries sector.”
Mr. Richster Nii Armah Amarfio the Executive Director of the Blue Economy and Governance Consult
This approach will ensure that policies and practices are informed by data and research, promoting long-term sustainability.
Moreover, Mr. Amarfio also discussed the need for establishing fisheries centers where fishermen can access services and training. He mentioned the continuation of the Almarbu Fisheries College, an initiative started under the previous NDC government. The college will offer training in gear development, fisheries science, and value addition to harvested fish.
“We will continue with Almarbu Fisheries College that we started. We will begin to teach things like gear development, train gear experts, and train fishermen to understand basic fisheries science.”
Mr. Richster Nii Armah Amarfio the Executive Director of the Blue Economy and Governance Consult
The aim is to equip fishermen with the skills they need to thrive in the industry, both domestically and internationally, following examples set by countries like the Philippines. Mr. Amarfio acknowledged the dire state of the fisheries industry, emphasizing the need for a fresh start. He stressed: “The fishing industry is currently on its knees. We need to start from a very humble beginning. We need to start rebuilding all that we have lost.” The NDC’s agenda is to rebuild the sector from the ground up, resetting the fisheries industry and ensuring sustainable practices are implemented moving forward. Mr. Amarfio ended by outlining several key initiatives that the NDC would pursue to revitalize the fisheries sector. Which includes; Establishing a Blue Economic Commission, Creating marine protected areas and essential habitats, Investigating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, Promoting aquaculture by ring-fencing water bodies for this purpose, and Improving research support through the introduction of a research vessel. Mr. Amarfio’s address provided a detailed roadmap for how the NDC plans to restore Ghana’s fisheries sector. The party is committed to tackling corruption, promoting science-led management, revitalizing both coastal and inland fisheries, and equipping fishermen with the skills and knowledge to compete in the global market.
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