Priya Gujadhur, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Country Representative to Ghana, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture met at a high level to discuss important projects that will advance Ghana’s fishing industry and to strengthen cooperation.
The visit also functioned as a formal invitation for Minister Emelia Arthur to attend the 34th FAO Regional Conference for Africa, which is set for April 13–17 in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
With inputs from important sector ministries including fisheries and aquaculture, the conference is anticipated to influence FAO’s strategic agenda throughout the continent.
Through roundtable discussions and technical workshops, the FAO delegation highlighted the conference’s significance as a forum for information exchange, policy discussion, and cooperation.
The purpose of these meetings is to strengthen ties and coordinate goals between FAO and its member nations.
Additionally, the group discussed current initiatives in Ghana, emphasising initiatives to:
• Strengthen grassroots governance in the fisheries sector
• Develop a National Plan of Action for small-scale fisheries
• Support the implementation of the Fisheries Law (Act 1146)
• Promote partnerships with small-scale fisheries under the school feeding programme
• Boost aquaculture development, particularly in northern Ghana
In her speech, Minister Emelia Arthur reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the collaboration and praised FAO for its ongoing support.
She emphasised the necessity of bolstering grassroots governance institutions, pointing out that accountability is still essential to creating a robust and sustainable fishing industry.
In order to boost productivity and value addition in the sector, the Minister also urged FAO to assist in implementing contemporary fish processing technologies.
She also called for the expansion of collaborative initiatives and programs in order to hasten the sector’s development and transformation.
Ghana’s attempts to form strategic alliances that will improve fisheries management, preserve livelihoods, and guarantee the long-term sustainability of marine resources have advanced with this gathering.
Source: newsthemegh.com