February 22, 2007

Ghana to venture into aquaculture

Ghana's businessmen should partner foreign investors to invest in the country's aquaculture sector, Gladys Asamh, Minister for Fisheries said on Tuesday (Feb 20).

Since studies the past two years have borne out the fact that Ghana is a good site for aquaculture, businessmen should seize the opportunity to develop the industry, she said.

Studies showed that all the natural factors, especially water and good soil are available in abundance, Asamh said.

The ministry's target for aquaculture production in the next five years is to produce up to half of local consumption which currently is at about 400,000 tonnes.

Asamh was speaking at an Aquaculture Investors Forum in Accra that deliberated on the government's aim of promoting aquaculture as a business venture. The talk was attended by participants from the Association of Ghana Industries, Banking and Financial Institutions, fish farmers, animal feed producers, importers and exporters and policy makers at all levels.

Asmah said aquaculture efforts failed in the past as people lacked commitment and technical expertise.

Lack of regulatory measures, poor allocations of responsibilities, weak aquaculture institutions and limited networking among aquaculture institutions also hampered the growth of the industry.

Moreover, abundant marine and inland fish resources at the time took away the impetus to pursue aquaculture as a viable enterprise, Asamh said. The Fisheries Minister said the government was giving all interested parties the opportunity to move forward in making aquaculture the business for the next decade.