GHANA SIGNS FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH CIHEAM, ITALY
Through an official statement, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Ghana informed the public that Ghana successfully concluded a high-level official visit to Italy from 14th to 21st February 2026, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CIHEAM Bari under the AREA Africa Programme.
The MoU was signed on 20th February 2026 in Bari, Italy, by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, and the Director of CIHEAM Bari, Dr. Biagio Di Terlizzi.
The agreement establishes a strategic partnership between Ghana and Italy aimed at advancing sustainable fisheries management, aquaculture development, research and training, institutional capacity building, private sector investment, and Blue Economy development.
Key Areas of the Partnership
Under the MoU, both parties will partner to:
- Strengthen institutional capacity in the fisheries and aquaculture sector
- Improve fisheries governance and fish stock recovery systems
- Promote aquaculture innovation, including offshore aquaculture
- Support research collaboration and postgraduate training
- Encourage private sector partnerships and investment
- Enhance climate resilience and Blue Economy development
Highlights of the Official Visit
During the visit, the Ghanaian delegation held meetings and technical engagements in Bari, Monopoli, Tricase, Gallipoli and Torre Suda with Italian maritime authorities, fisheries cooperatives, aquaculture operators, seafood processors and training institutions.
The engagements provided Ghana with practical lessons on:
- Community-led fisheries management approaches
- Offshore marine aquaculture systems
- Modern fish processing, cold chain and traceability systems
- Maritime safety, vessel monitoring and surveillance technologies
- Marine Protected Area (MPA) governance and ecosystem restoration
These experiences will support Government’s ongoing efforts to modernise the fisheries sector, reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen monitoring and enforcement, and promote sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities.
Next Steps
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture will work closely with CIHEAM Bari and other stakeholders to develop an implementation roadmap to operationalise the partnership and ensure that its outcomes contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s fisheries reform and Blue Economy agenda.
