MoFA Leads Strategic Ghana–China Talks to Transform Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector
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 Priority
Addressing 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 Partnership
The 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 institutes
- Nearly 5,000 scientists and technical experts
- Advanced research vessels, laboratories and field stations
- Active cooperation programmes in more than 40 countries, including across Africa
Key Areas of Cooperation Discussed
1. Aquaculture and Mariculture Development
The Ministry expressed strong interest in collaboration to expand Ghana’s aquaculture production and close the national fish supply gap through:
- Marine fish farming (mariculture) systems
- Species diversification beyond tilapia
- Inland and coastal cage farming
- Scaled production for domestic and export markets
2. Capture Fisheries and Resource Management
Discussions covered:
- Joint fish stock assessments and marine surveys
- Research vessel collaboration
- Strengthening fisheries data systems
- Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
- Addressing climate change impacts on marine ecosystems
3. Fish Disease Control and Biosecurity
MoFA highlighted existing national gaps in biosecurity and disease surveillance. CAFS expressed readiness to support Ghana through:
- Development of national biosecurity frameworks
- Strengthening diagnostic and laboratory systems
- Capacity building for fisheries officers and researchers
4. Capacity Building and Human Capital Development
Both sides explored structured cooperation including:
- Scholarships and postgraduate training programmes
- Technical exchanges and expert deployments
- Partnerships with Ghanaian universities and research institutions
- Strengthening national fisheries research infrastructure
5. Fisheries Infrastructure and Value Chain Development
Priority areas identified included:
- Fish processing and cold-chain infrastructure
- Feed production systems
- Aquaculture demonstration parks
- Support for Phase II development of the Fisheries College
Next Steps
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture will lead the next phase of engagement, which will include:
- Drafting a Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CAFS
- Identifying priority joint research programmes
- Planning CAFS technical missions to Ghana
- Establishing structured training and scholarship pipelines
- Exploring infrastructure collaboration and investment models
A 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 Impact
The engagement positions fisheries and aquaculture as a strategic anchor of Ghana–China cooperation, aligned with:
- National food security goals
- Export expansion under the AfCFTA framework
- Research-driven policy and governance
- Sustainable Blue Economy growth
- Long-term skills and institutional development
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that international partnerships translate into tangible benefits for fishers, fish farmers, processors and coastal communities across Ghana.
Source : MoFA
