By Sarah Baafi
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with industry stakeholders to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146).
She gave the assurance during a stakeholder engagement with the Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) and the Ghana Tuna Association (GTA) on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the NAFAG Hall in Tema.
The meeting focused on the practical implications of the new law and how its provisions will affect the operations of industrial and tuna fishing companies. According to the Minister, the engagement was organised to provide a platform for industry players to raise concerns, seek clarification on regulatory requirements, and jointly explore practical approaches that promote compliance while supporting business growth.
Ms Arthur said the government is rolling out key reforms under the new law, including digitised licensing systems, enhanced monitoring and surveillance, and science-based fisheries management practices. She noted that the measures are intended to create a predictable, transparent and investment-friendly environment for the sector.
She stressed that compliance with the new legal framework is a shared responsibility and is essential to protecting Ghana’s fish stocks and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the fisheries industry.
The Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs and Member of Parliament for Wa East, Godfred Seidu Jasaw, assured stakeholders of Parliament’s readiness to work with industry players to address challenges arising from the implementation of the Act. He urged operators to act responsibly in the national interest, warning that the collapse of the fisheries sector would have far-reaching consequences.
“If the fisheries industry goes down, we all go down,” he said.
The engagement ended with a commitment by government, Parliament and industry stakeholders to deepen collaboration, ensure the effective implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025, and secure a sustainable future for Ghana’s fisheries sector.
