Eni Ghana, alongside Vitol Upstream Ghana Ltd and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, has launched a livelihood programme aimed at supporting more than 1,000 artisanal canoe owners across 14 coastal districts, as energy producers expand community-linked investments beyond oil and gas.
The initiative spans fishing communities including Sekondi-Takoradi, Shama, Cape Coast, Effutu and Mfantseman, targeting productivity gains in a sector that remains central to coastal employment and domestic food supply.
The programme focuses on improving output and incomes by addressing structural constraints that have long limited small-scale fishing, including ageing nets, obsolete engines and unsafe towing equipment.
“This program aims to strengthen canoe-based fishing by supplying modern nets and equipment, while enhancing safety at sea,” said Maurizio Pinna, Managing Director of Eni Ghana. “We are also reinforcing awareness on marine biodiversity conservation and providing training in sustainable fishing practices, safety and business management.”
Under the initiative, beneficiaries will receive upgraded inputs such as multifilament nets, weaving threads, buoys, lead weights and dragging ropes, all aligned with standards set by the Ghana Maritime Authority. The intervention is also tailored to reflect differences in fishing practices and local conditions across communities.
The emphasis on safety and equipment modernisation is expected to improve operational efficiency and reduce risks at sea, where many artisanal operators continue to rely on outdated gear.
The programme aligns with environmental and social benchmarks set by the International Finance Corporation, as well as Ghana’s local content regulations in the petroleum sector, which encourage deeper linkages between extractive activities and domestic economic development.
For Eni and its partners, the initiative reflects a broader shift toward embedding oil and gas operations within local value chains, particularly in communities directly affected by offshore production.
Eni has operated in Ghana since 2009 and currently produces about 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. It leads the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) project with a 44.4% stake, alongside Vitol (35.6%) and GNPC (20%).
Beyond hydrocarbons, the joint venture has expanded its footprint into community investments, including training, water and sanitation, and energy access—part of a wider effort to translate resource extraction into inclusive economic gains.
The fishing support programme highlights a growing trend in Ghana’s extractive sector, where companies are leveraging their presence to support non-oil livelihoods.
By strengthening artisanal fishing, the initiative is expected to boost incomes while stabilising fish supply, linking offshore energy production to onshore economic resilience in coastal communities.
