Ghana’s Fish deficit Hits 460,000 Tonnes

By Emmanuel Kubi

Daily Guide:Sept.1,2010

THE CHAIRMAN of the Fisheries Commission, Mike Akyeampong has hinted that though Ghana’s fishing industry is contributing significantly to socio-economic development of the country various measures must be adopted to address the yawning deficit of about 460,000 tonnes.
Mr. Akyeampong noted that “Ghana’s annual total requirement of fish is estimated at 880,000 tonnes while annual fish production averaged 420, 000 tonnes in 2007, leaving an annual deficit of 460,000 tonnes.”
In an interview with DAILY GUIDE last week in Accra he noted that the total input in the fisheries sector in 2007 amounted to 212,945.42 tonnes, which was valued at US$262 million, stressing that “Ghana is not self sufficient in fish production.”
He was of the view that the development of aquaculture would help bridge the yawning gap.
The Ghana Statistical Service in 2002 revealed that about 2 million people, representing about 10 per cent of the nation’s population, depend on the sector for their livelihood.
It was also estimated that Ghana’s per capital fish consumption increased above the global average of 13kg per capital to about 23kg per capital in 2007.
Mr. Akyeampong noted that in view of the potential that exist in the fishing industry it would be prudent to exploit the resources as demanded by international conventions.
Specific estimates at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) indicate that 110, 000 small-scale fishermen are engaged in the marine sector with many women engaged in processing, marketing and ancillary activities.
The Chairman of the Fisheries Commission said about 71,000 people were found to be small-scale fishermen along the Volta lake with over 20,000 women operating in the marketing sector. These, he noted, point to the fact that the fishing sector supports many people, explaining that it could create more jobs for the people.