The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs. Emelia Arthur, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening regional collaboration on ocean governance and maritime security.
She made this statement on Thursday, in Accra, during a meeting with a delegation from Tanzania’s National Defence College on a strategic neighbourhood study tour.
Talks focused on sustaining fisheries governance, maritime security and the blue economy transition. Areas discussed included opportunities in offshore energy, marine transport and coastal tourism as part of a broader economic transformation agenda.
The two sides affirmed that the study tour would move beyond dialogue to tangible outcomes, reinforcing Africa’s collective capacity to manage its ocean resources sustainably and strategically.
Mrs. Arthur underscored the growing importance of safeguarding Africa’s marine resources, describing it as central to national stability, economic growth and sovereignty.
She noted that Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector supports over three million livelihoods and remains a critical source of protein for the population, adding that the sector’s significance extends beyond food security to job creation, economic resilience and national stability.
The minister stated that government is undertaking a deliberate shift toward a structured blue economy framework, backed by strengthened policies, legal reforms and institutional coordination aimed at transforming the sector into a driver of sustainable economic growth.
She highlighted ongoing measures including enhanced enforcement systems, vessel monitoring, the implementation of closed fishing seasons, and investments in aquaculture to restore fish stocks and protect marine ecosystems.
She described the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as not only a fisheries challenge but also an economic crime and a threat to national sovereignty.
She further identified climate change and increasing competition over marine resources as pressing transboundary issues requiring coordinated regional action.
She stressed that national efforts alone would not be sufficient, noting that Africa’s waters are connected and that responses must be equally so.
The study tour is aimed at advancing bilateral relations between Ghana and Tanzania, focusing on shared priorities in maritime security, resource governance, and institutional strengthening.
Adwoa Koramah Anokye-Gyimah, ISD
