The Fisheries Commission has inaugurated two national-level committees to strengthen science-based, coordinated and participatory management of Ghana’s fisheries resources.
The Scientific and Technical Committee (STC) and the Fisheries Management Operational Committee (FMOC) were inaugurated with support from Global Fisheries and Resilience Action (GFRA) under the Inshore Exclusion Zone Enforcement and Transparency (IEZET) Project.
The two committees were inaugurated separately at the Fisheries Commission Conference Room in Accra on September 15, 2026.
Their establishment forms part of efforts to align Ghana’s fisheries co-management structures with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), while creating a stronger institutional framework for stakeholder participation and evidence-based decision-making.
Under Sections 11 and 13 of the Act, the Governing Board of the Fisheries Commission has the authority to establish committees, including co-management committees, to support the effective management of the country’s fisheries resources.
Speaking at the ceremonies, Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Professor Benjamin Campion, outlined the governance structure established under the new law and explained the respective responsibilities of the Governing Board, the Fisheries Commission and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Chairman of the Governing Board, Professor Wisdom Akpalu, said the committees would play an important role in ensuring that scientific and technical recommendations receive thorough scrutiny before informing fisheries management decisions.
“We are depending on you to proof test all the scientific and technical work that will come to your committee,” he told members, urging them to critically assess recommendations submitted to the committees.
The Scientific and Technical Committee, chaired by Dr Angela Lamptey, will provide scientific and technical advice to guide fisheries management decisions.
Its revised mandate expands its coverage beyond marine fisheries to include inland fisheries and aquaculture, broadening the scope of technical advice available to policymakers and regulators.
The Fisheries Management Operational Committee, chaired by Mr Daniel Owusu, will focus on translating scientific and technical recommendations into coordinated action.
Its responsibilities include preparing annual implementation plans, coordinating activities among relevant divisions of the Fisheries Commission and other stakeholder institutions, and ensuring that institutional representation complies with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025.
The two committees are expected to strengthen the connection between scientific research, policy decisions and practical implementation across Ghana’s fisheries sector.
They will also provide formal platforms for collaboration among government agencies, technical experts and fisheries stakeholders, potentially improving coordination in the management of the country’s marine and inland fisheries resources.
GFRA, which supported the establishment of the committees, is a non-governmental organisation focused on sustainable development and community resilience, particularly in coastal communities and marine ecosystems.
The organisation provides technical, policy and extension support while working with government, civil society and other stakeholders on the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources.
The IEZET Project is being implemented by GFRA in partnership with the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Hen Mpoano.
The project supports the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission in implementing provisions of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, including measures to strengthen enforcement of the extended Inshore Exclusion Zone and improve transparency within the fisheries sector.
The project is funded by Oceans 5, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
