By Bright Ntramah
President Akufo-Addo has called for bold and urgent action to be taken to protect the ocean which produces 50 % of the world’s oxygen and also to make it safe to enhance food security. He said Ghana on its part has enacted laws and implemented regulations to deal with unregulated fishing.
Speaking in Accra at the opening of the 7th Meeting of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, OACPS, the President noted that climate change is also impacting negatively on the ocean and therefore called on OACPS to tackle climate change head-on.
The meeting is being attended by Ministers in Charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture and their Senior Officials involved in policy formulation and implementation. It provides the platform for key stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sector to determine policy and strategic options for the implementation of actions for the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in OACP countries.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson noted that unregulated fishing activities, climate change, pollution and low investments are impacting negatively on the fishing and aquaculture industry.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway tasked participants at the Conference to devise ways of tackling activities of pirates on the Gulf of Guinea.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the fisheries sector accounts for 1% of GDP and earned the nation $190 million in 2019. He said Ghana is implementing a national action plan aimed at curbing illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities. The President explained that a pact has been signed with neighbouring countries to implement a joint fisheries observer programme as part of efforts to ensure safe and legal fishing.
The conference will, among other things, seek to address the challenges facing aquaculture with regard to sea pollution and piracy among others.