By Jesse Ampah Owusu, GNA
Accra, March 05, GNA – A fisheries sector project, dubbed: “Economic Mobility and Protection of Women, Youth and Ecosystems for Resilient Fishers (EMPoWER)” has been launched in Accra to build the capacity of women and youth in the industry.
It is also to enhance social protection, and promote environmental sustainability within artisanal fishing communities across the aquatic food value chain.
The $2million three-year (2026-2028) project is funded by the Norwegian Government and being implemented by three fisheries sector NGOs; Hen Mpoano, CEWEFIA and the Development Action Association.
Mrs Emelia Arthur, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, commended the implementers and the Norwegian Government for their continued support to Ghana’s fisheries sector.
She said the project was critical considering the depletion of fishes in the country’s waters and also the need for fishers to adopt safe fishing methods and practices.
“This is important because 60 per cent of Ghana’s protein, animal protein, comes from fish but the fish stock is depleting. There are many things going on affecting production,” she added.
Mrs Arthur said building the capacity of women and youth was important to ensuring that the sector was safeguarded against unsafe practices that affected the aquatic food value chain.
“This would ensure that we have safe fishes and aquatic food to consume from our women fishers who are involved in the handling and processing of these products,” she added.
Mr Kofi Agbogah, the Executive Director of Hen Mpoano, and Lead Coordinator of the project, said they were going to put the women and youth into coperatives to enable them to get access to capital to enhance their production.
He said they were also going to train them in certifying their skills and products to ensure they met best market standards and practices.
Mr Agbogah added that through those initiatives their capacities would be built to improve on their skills, enhance production capabilities, and increase earnings.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe