Kasoa (C/R), Feb. 09, GNA – Ghana’s largest tilapia producing company, Tropo Farms Limited( with the brand name Volta Catch) , has opened a new depot at Kasoa, bringing to five the number of depots in the country.
With this additional depot opened in the Central region, it is expected that Tropo Farms would be able to meet Ghana’s demand for tilapia and fish nutritional needs.
Mr Francis Zimmeleh, Consultant Corporate Strategy and Chairman of the occasion, said the Company had been in existence since 1997, and now employed about 800 permanent staff and 2,000 non-permanent, helping to addressing Ghana’s unemployment problem.
He said plans were afoot to open another depot in Tamale to serve the people of the five northern regions and create more employment opportunities, especially for young people and women.
“This very launch of a new depot to our numerous branches is a step worthy of emulation,” he said. “It is going to create employment for our vibrant youth in this community and beyond.”
He noted that the new depot would generate additional revenue to the government for its numerous development projects.
He commended the Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministry for creating an enabling environment for the company to flourish.
Mr Zimmeleh also applauded the Chief of Ngleshie Amanfor and the people for permitting the depot on their soil, and prayed that their relationship would be sustained.
Mrs Hawa Koomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, praised the management of Tropo Farms for the project and that their activities were contributing significantly to the economic development of the country.
She said it was in line with the Ministry’s development agenda of promoting sustainable aquaculture.
She noted that the depot would contribute to efficient marketing of fish and also lead to the reduction of postharvest losses in Ghana’s fisheries sector.
Ghana is the biggest producer of tilapia in Sub Saharan Africa, with a seafood consumption of 26 kilos per capita, particularly of tilapia.
Demand for fish is far higher than the domestic industry can supply. Despite a recent surge in in Aquaculture production, the Fisheries sector trails at an estimated shortfall of more than 20,000 metric tonnes .
GNA