Ghana risks facing a ban from the European Union (EU) on fish imports if it does not take necessary measures to improve its fishing practices. The country has already received two yellow cards from the EU—one in 2013 and another in 2021. If the situation does not improve by 2026, Ghana will be issued a red card. This information was presented by Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Aquaculture, and Cocoa Affairs, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Accra on Friday.
The meeting was to finalise a draft Fisheries bill that will help bring sanity to the country’s fishing space. He said on both occasions, the country was singled out for a yellow card warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. To this end, he said the draft bill, which was now with the committee of parliament, has made satisfactory inputs but still needs stakeholders in the industry to help finalise it so that Ghana can pass the EU specifications and not receive a red card in 2026.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, in a welcome address, said three million people in the country depended on the fishery value chain, saying a ban would, therefore, have dire consequences. Also, she said the country was one of the biggest markets for fish importation into the EU market and a red card would affect export revenues. She, therefore, said a law was needed to regulate and sanitise the country’s fishing space. The bill, she said, has, therefore, been laid before parliament under a certificate of emergency.
Mrs. Arthur stated that once finalised, the bill would be presented to the EU and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for their input before being passed. Stakeholders voiced their concerns, highlighting that fish is a vital resource in the country that needs to be managed properly. They emphasised that the country has international obligations to ensure the sustainable management of this resource. Some stakeholders called for penalties for captains of vessels involved in illegal activities within the country’s waters. They argued that such captains should not only be repatriated to their home countries but also face the full consequences of the country’s laws to deter others from similar actions.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture bill, which elapsed with the last parliament and, therefore, is undergoing consideration in the present parliament, has 167 clauses and 170 sections. The bills will deal with issues, including inland fishing management, aquaculture issues, offences and penalties.
By: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
