By Laudia Sawer
Tema, March 14, GNA – A delegation from the “Creating Synergy Between Indigenous Practices and Scientific Knowledge” (ISIPSK) project, also known as the ‘Sankofa Project,’ has paid a working visit to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Madam Emelia Arthur.
The delegation led by Dr. Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood from the University of St Andrews in Scotland met with the Minister to discuss the progress of the project and explore future collaborations.
The ISIPSK project is funded by the PEW Charitable Trusts and implemented by the University of St Andrews in partnership with the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG), the Fisheries Commission, and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
The project seeks to integrate traditional ecological knowledge with scientific research in promoting sustainable and equitable fisheries management.
Nana Kweigyah, the National President of CaFGOAG, giving a brief of the meeting, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the delegation, at the meeting, provided updates on the Sankofa project’s progress and preliminary ideas from the field, drawing on insights from fishing communities in the Central, Western, Volta, and Greater Accra regions.
He said the Minister, who is known for her dedication to equitable fisheries governance and the revitalisation of indigenous conservation methods, shared her vision for fisheries sustainability and underscored the importance of working with the artisanal fisheries sector to address illegal practices while recognising the benefits of historical conservation techniques.
He indicated that a key highlight of the discussion was the minister’s announcement that artisanal fishers would be exempted from the fisheries closure this year and elaborated on her outfit’s plans to collaborate with the artisanal sector to enhance fisheries sustainability.
The CaFGOAG National President stated that the engagement marks an important step toward fostering sustainable and equitable fisheries management in Ghana, with broader implications for the West African region.
The delegation, he added, welcomed the opportunity to present their findings soon and looks forward to continued collaboration, including community-based validation of research results.
GNA
LS/BM