The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA) has taken a major step toward transforming Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector following high-level strategic discussions with the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS), China’s leading national fisheries research institution.The engagement, led by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur (MP), forms part of the Government of Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+), which seeks to strengthen food security, create jobs, expand exports and enhance industrial competitiveness through strategic international partnerships.The meeting, held at the headquarters of CAFS in Beijing, brought together senior officials from the Ministry, the 24H+ Secretariat and key Ghanaian economic institutions, alongside the leadership and technical directors of CAFS.
Fisheries and Aquaculture as a National Development PriorityAddressing the meeting, Hon. Emelia Arthur reaffirmed that fisheries and aquaculture remain critical pillars of Ghana’s development agenda, contributing significantly to food and nutrition security, employment, export earnings and the sustainable development of the Blue Economy.She outlined Government’s vision to build a resilient, well-governed and science-driven fisheries and aquaculture sector, supported by strong institutions, modern technology and data-led decision-making.“The Ministry is deliberately pursuing research-led partnerships that will strengthen Ghana’s capacity across aquaculture expansion, fisheries resource management, disease control, value addition and human capital development,” the Minister stated.Deepening the 66-Year Ghana–China PartnershipThe engagement builds on the 66-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Ghana and China, with fisheries and aquaculture identified as a priority area for long-term cooperation.CAFS, which operates under China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, showcased its extensive technical and institutional capacity, including:14 specialised fisheries and aquaculture research institutesNearly 5,000 scientists and technical expertsAdvanced research vessels, laboratories and field stationsActive cooperation programmes in more than 40 countries, including across Africa
Key Areas of Cooperation Discussed1. Aquaculture and Mariculture DevelopmentThe Ministry expressed strong interest in collaboration to expand Ghana’s aquaculture production and close the national fish supply gap through:Marine fish farming (mariculture) systemsSpecies diversification beyond tilapiaInland and coastal cage farmingScaled production for domestic and export markets2. Capture Fisheries and Resource ManagementDiscussions covered:Joint fish stock assessments and marine surveysResearch vessel collaborationStrengthening fisheries data systemsCombating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishingAddressing climate change impacts on marine ecosystems3. Fish Disease Control and BiosecurityMoFA highlighted existing national gaps in biosecurity and disease surveillance. CAFS expressed readiness to support Ghana through:Development of national biosecurity frameworksStrengthening diagnostic and laboratory systemsCapacity building for fisheries officers and researchers4. Capacity Building and Human Capital DevelopmentBoth sides explored structured cooperation including:Scholarships and postgraduate training programmesTechnical exchanges and expert deploymentsPartnerships with Ghanaian universities and research institutionsStrengthening national fisheries research infrastructure5. Fisheries Infrastructure and Value Chain DevelopmentPriority areas identified included:Fish processing and cold-chain infrastructureFeed production systemsAquaculture demonstration parks
Support for Phase II development of the Fisheries CollegeNext StepsThe Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture will lead the next phase of engagement, which will include:Drafting a Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CAFSIdentifying priority joint research programmesPlanning CAFS technical missions to GhanaEstablishing structured training and scholarship pipelinesExploring infrastructure collaboration and investment modelsA joint working group involving MoFA, CAFS and the 24H+ Secretariat is expected to be established by February 2026, with pilot projects targeted for rollout by mid-2026.Strategic ImpactThe engagement positions fisheries and aquaculture as a strategic anchor of Ghana–China cooperation, aligned with:National food security goalsExport expansion under the AfCFTA frameworkResearch-driven policy and governanceSustainable Blue Economy growthLong-term skills and institutional developmentThe Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that international partnerships translate into tangible benefits for fishers, fish farmers, processors and coastal communities across Ghana.
