By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Tema, Feb. 20, GNA – The National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) has distanced itself from recent public statements and media engagements made by Mr Richster Nii Amarh
Amarfio, who has been using the title of Vice President of the Association to comment on national fisheries issues.
In a disclaimer issued by its Executive Council on February 19, 2026, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), after a duly convened meeting, NAFAG said statements, letters and media appearances undertaken by Mr Amarfio on national policy matters were not authorised and therefore did not represent the official position of the association.
The Council said the latest instance brought to its attention was a statement titled “The Collapsing Industrial Fisheries Sector in Ghana”, attributed to Mr Amarfio in his capacity as vice president of NAFAG.
The association noted that beyond written statements and letters addressed to various institutions, Mr Amarfio had also appeared on television programmes expressing views on the fisheries sector while identifying himself as vice president of NAFAG.
NAFAG emphasised that while it respected and cherished the constitutional right to freedom of expression of every Ghanaian, including Mr Amarfio, its own constitution required that official positions on national issues be duly authorised by the appropriate body of the association.
It cited Article Thirty-Eight (iii) of its Constitution, which provided that the President “shall serve as the mouthpiece of the Association on all national issues.”
According to the Executive Council, that provision exists to ensure clarity, coherence, and institutional integrity in NAFAG’s engagement on matters of national importance.
The statement explained that any officeholder other than the president who issued statements, wrote letters, or expressed positions on national issues without proper authorisation could not serve as the mouthpiece of the association.
“Accordingly, NAFAG wishes to state clearly that any statements, letters, campaigns, representations or media engagements undertaken by Mr Richster Nii Amarh Amarfio in his capacity as Vice President of NAFAG on national fisheries matters were not authorised by the Executive Council and therefore do not represent the official position of the Association,” it stressed.
It added that, “At best, such statements, etc., by such individuals could be described as personal, which NAFAG has no qualms about, but not as the official position of NAFAG.”
NAFAG urged the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Fisheries Commission, stakeholders in the fisheries sector and the public to regard only statements issued by the president or any duly authorised representative as its official position on national matters.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with government and stakeholders to advance the sustainable development of Ghana’s fisheries sector in line with its constitutional mandate.
NAFAG is the umbrella fisheries association that coordinates the activities of its five member associations, namely, the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (G.N.C.F.C), Ghana Tuna Association (G.T.A), Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (G.I.T.A), Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (G.I.F.A) and National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (N.I.C.F.C).
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei