From Pits to Ponds: Ghana Launches Revolutionary Komfueku–Shama Aquaculture Project
What do you do with abandoned, scarred clay and quarry pits? If you are in the Shama District, you turn them into a thriving economic engine. In a pioneering move to reshape Ghana’s aquaculture sector, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture has officially joined forces with private partner R&B Farms to launch the Komfueku–Shama Aquaculture Project. The initiative aims to flip an environmental challenge on its head by transforming underutilized, excavated land into highly productive fish farming sites.
Turning Scars into Livelihoods
For years, abandoned quarry and clay pits have posed environmental and safety hazards for local communities. This project flips the script. By piloting innovative fish farming practices directly inside these former extraction sites, the initiative tackles three massive goals at once:
Boosting Food Security: Significantly increasing domestic fish supply.
Saving Marine Ecosystems: Reducing intense fishing pressure on Ghana’s natural marine stocks.
Job Creation: Creating reliable, sustainable livelihoods, particularly targeting employment for local youth and women.
High-Level Backing for a “Blue Economy”
Leading the charge is Hon. Emelia Arthur, Member of Parliament for the Shama Constituency and Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Delivering her keynote address, she described the project as a textbook example of modern resourcefulness.
“This is a practical demonstration of how innovation can transform underutilized land into productive economic assets that support food production, create jobs, and strengthen local communities.”
Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture
Minister Arthur emphasized that the project perfectly aligns with core national priorities, including job creation, the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, and Ghana’s broader Blue Economy drive. The initiative has garnered immense regional and local support:
Delivering the speech on behalf of the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Nelson, hailed the project in a statement as a massive milestone for sustainable aquaculture and environmental stewardship, expressing optimism that it will become a blueprint for other districts nationwide.
District Chief Executive Officer for Shama, Hon. Otis Dentu, assured the public that the local Assembly is fully committed to providing the structural support needed for smooth execution.
Mr. Benjamin Turkson, Director of Operations at R&B Farms, reminded stakeholders that the vision extends far past just harvesting fish: “This is a model for rural transformation and environmental rehabilitation.”
As operations begin at Komfueku, stakeholders across the country are watching closely. If successful, these reclaimed pits won’t just feed the Shama District, they will provide a master blueprint for green, sustainable rural transformation across all of Ghana.
Source : Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture
