GHANA DEEPENS STRATEGIC FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA TO DRIVE FOOD SECURITY, JOBS AND BLUE ECONOMY GROWTH

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur (MP), has led a high-level engagement between the Government of Ghana and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture to enhance food security, job creation and sustainable blue economy growth.

The engagement took place in Beijing during a meeting between Hon. Emelia Arthur and Mr. Han Jun, Secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Leadership Group and Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), under whose mandate fisheries and aquaculture fall.

The meeting provided a strategic platform for Ghana to present a comprehensive Ghana–China Fisheries Partnership Framework, outlining the country’s vision for a sustainable, resilient and investment-ready fisheries and aquaculture sector that supports national development while protecting aquatic ecosystems.

Minister Emelia Arthur Leads Ghana’s Fisheries Transformation Agenda

Addressing the engagement, Hon. Emelia Arthur emphasized that fisheries and aquaculture remain central to Ghana’s food security and economic transformation agenda, noting that fish contributes more than 60 percent of the nation’s animal protein intake and supports millions of livelihoods along the value chain.

She highlighted Government’s commitment to repositioning the sector through science-based management, aquaculture expansion, value addition and strategic international partnerships.

“The future of Ghana’s fish supply lies in responsible aquaculture development supported by technology, investment and strong institutional collaboration,” the Minister stated, adding that Ghana is ready to partner with China to unlock large-scale growth across the fisheries value chain.

Ghana Positioned as China’s Gateway to African Fisheries Markets

During the presentation, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA) outlined Ghana’s strategic advantage as a gateway to African fisheries markets, citing the country’s stable democracy, strong rule of law, investor-friendly environment and allowance for full foreign ownership.

With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat headquartered in Accra, Ghana offers access to a 1.3 billion-consumer African market valued at US$3.4 trillion, in addition to the 370 million-consumer ECOWAS market.

The Ministry also highlighted Ghana’s vast natural endowments, including the 8,502 km² Lake Volta — the world’s largest artificial lake — currently utilized at less than five percent, presenting major opportunities for aquaculture expansion, particularly tilapia production under favourable year-round water temperatures.

Closing a US$800 Million Fish Supply Gap

MoFA data presented at the meeting showed that Ghana’s annual fish demand stands at 1.28 million metric tonnes, while domestic production remains at about 684,000 metric tonnes, creating a supply deficit of approximately 590,000 metric tonnes, valued between US$600–800 million annually.

With key marine stocks, including sardinella, depleted to 13.8 percent of sustainable levels, the Ministry stressed that aquaculture must drive future growth, with a national production target of 177,000 metric tonnes by 2027.

Investment Opportunities Across the Value Chain

The Ministry identified several high-impact investment opportunities for Chinese enterprises, including fish feed manufacturing, SPF hatcheries, cold chain infrastructure and modern fish processing facilities.

Post-harvest losses currently range between 25–50 percent in inland fisheries and 10–20 percent in marine fisheries, while deep processing remains below 10 percent, with no large-scale fillet or surimi processing capacity in the country.

Potential investors were assured of flexible investment models — including wholly owned ventures, joint ventures, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and technology licensing — supported by Free Zones incentives such as tax holidays, duty exemptions and unrestricted profit repatriation.

Strategic Fishing Ports and Flagship Projects

MoFA also presented completed feasibility studies for six priority fishing ports nationwide, with Shama in the Western Region identified as a flagship project requiring an estimated US$25–40 million investment and capable of creating more than 10,000 jobs.

Additionally, Ghana proposed an immediate partnership opportunity for the US$12 million Ghana National Aquaculture Centre, a fully developed facility seeking a Chinese partner to support operations, research, training and technology demonstration for Ghana and the wider West African sub-region.

Biosecurity and Human Capital at the Core

Hon. Emelia Arthur underscored the urgent need to strengthen aquatic animal health systems, particularly in addressing Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus (ISKNV), which has affected nearly 80 percent of aquaculture farms.

Ghana is seeking collaboration with China in vaccine development, laboratory twinning, disease surveillance systems and SPF hatchery technology, recognizing China’s global leadership in aquaculture biosecurity.

To ensure sustainability, the Ministry also proposed a structured human capital development programme, including scholarships and technical training in biosecurity, disease control, processing technology and fisheries policy, targeting up to 1,200 professionals over five years.

Strong Chinese Leadership Supporting Cooperation

The engagement benefited from the leadership of Mr. Han Jun, a distinguished agricultural economist and seasoned public administrator with over 30 years of experience in China’s “Three Rural Issues” sector.

Mr. Han Jun holds a doctoral degree in agricultural economic management from Northwest A&F University and has served in key national institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Development Research Center of the State Council. He has also held senior provincial leadership roles, combining policy expertise with practical governance experience.

Since assuming office as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2024, he has championed international agricultural and fisheries cooperation grounded in mutual benefit, technology transfer, capacity development and sustainable resource management — values strongly aligned with Ghana’s fisheries transformation agenda.

Building a Partnership for Generations

In concluding the engagement, Hon. Emelia Arthur called for the establishment of a formal Ghana–China Fisheries Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), supported by joint investment roadmaps, technology transfer mechanisms and scholarship programmes.

She described the partnership as one designed to serve both nations for generations, combining China’s advanced aquaculture expertise with Ghana’s natural resources, strategic location and access to African markets.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development reaffirmed its commitment to leading a science-driven, investment-ready and inclusive transformation of Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector in close collaboration with strategic international partners.

Source : MOFA