Government takes steps to bridge US$800 million fish supply gap

The Ghanaian government has strengthened its strategic fisheries partnership with China to address the country’s estimated US$800 million fish supply gap.

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) under Minister Emelia Arthur, aims to boost bilateral cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture, promoting food security, job creation, and sustainable growth within the blue economy.

Speaking after a high-level engagement in Beijing with Han Jun, Secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Leadership Group, and officials from China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Minister Arthur reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to revitalising the fisheries sector through science-based management, aquaculture expansion, value addition, and strategic international partnerships.

During the meeting, MoFAD presented the Ghana-China Fisheries Partnership Framework, detailing the country’s vision for a sustainable, resilient, and investment-ready fisheries and aquaculture sector that supports national development while safeguarding aquatic ecosystems.

Minister Arthur noted that fisheries and aquaculture are critical to Ghana’s food security and economic transformation. She disclosed that national fish demand stands at 1.28 million metric tonnes annually, while domestic production reaches only about 684,000 metric tonnes. This results in a supply deficit of approximately 590,000 metric tonnes, valued between US$600–800 million each year.

With key marine stocks, such as sardinella, currently depleted to 13.8 percent of sustainable levels, the government is prioritising aquaculture as the main driver of future growth, targeting national production of 177,000 metric tonnes by 2027.

Investment opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture

Minister Arthur highlighted Ghana’s abundant natural resources, including the 8,502 km² Lake Volta—the world’s largest artificial lake—which is currently underutilised at less than five percent. She identified significant potential for aquaculture expansion, particularly in tilapia farming, benefiting from favourable year-round water temperatures.

The ministry also outlined key investment opportunities for Chinese businesses, including fish feed production, SPF hatcheries, cold chain infrastructure, and modern fish processing facilities. With post-harvest losses ranging between 25–50 percent in inland fisheries and 10–20 percent in marine fisheries, and deep processing currently below 10 percent, there is considerable scope for large-scale fillet or surimi processing.

Investors were assured of flexible investment models, including wholly-owned ventures, joint ventures, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and technology licensing. They will also benefit from Free Zone incentives, including tax holidays, duty exemptions, and unrestricted profit repatriation.

MoFAD reaffirmed its commitment to leading a science-driven, inclusive, and investment-ready transformation of Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector, working closely with strategic international partners to ensure sustainable growth and national development.