Government is intensifying efforts to expand aquaculture production as part of a broader strategy to close Ghana’s estimated US$800 million annual fish supply deficit, enhance food security and create jobs.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) says the country is targeting a national fish production level of 177,000 metric tonnes from aquaculture by 2027, as pressure mounts on depleted marine fish stocks.
Sector Minister, Madam Emelia Arthur, disclosed this during a high-level engagement in Beijing with officials of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), led by Mr Han Jun, Secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Leadership Group.
The meeting formed part of efforts to deepen Ghana–China cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture development, investment and technology transfer.
The minister said Ghana’s annual fish demand currently stands at about 1.28 million metric tonnes, while domestic production is approximately 684,000 metric tonnes, leaving a supply gap of about 390,000 metric tonnes valued between US$600 million and US$800 million annually.
She noted that aquaculture, particularly tilapia farming, had become critical to bridging the deficit, especially as key marine stocks such as sardinella have declined to about 13.8 percent of sustainable levels.
“The fisheries and aquaculture sector remains central to Ghana’s food security, job creation and economic transformation agenda,” the minister said, adding that government was repositioning the sector through science-based management, aquaculture expansion, value addition and strategic international partnerships.
At the meeting, MoFAD presented a comprehensive Ghana–China Fisheries Partnership Framework, outlining Ghana’s vision for a sustainable, resilient and investment-ready fisheries and aquaculture sector that supports national development while protecting aquatic ecosystems.
Madam Arthur highlighted Ghana’s vast natural endowments, including the 8,502 square kilometre Lake Volta, the world’s largest artificial lake which is currently utilised at less than five percent of its aquaculture potential.
She said the underutilisation presents significant opportunities for large-scale, year-round aquaculture production under favourable water conditions.
The minister also identified several high-impact investment opportunities for Chinese enterprises, including fish feed manufacturing, specific pathogen-free (SPF) hatcheries, cold chain infrastructure and modern fish processing facilities.
She observed that post-harvest losses remain a major challenge, ranging between 25 and 50 percent in inland fisheries and 10 to 20 percent in marine fisheries, while deep processing accounts for less than 10 percent of total output.
“These gaps present enormous opportunities for investment in large-scale fillet and surimi processing capacity in the country,” Madam Arthur said.
Potential investors were assured of flexible investment models, including wholly owned ventures, joint ventures, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and technology licensing arrangements.
She added that such investments would be supported by incentives under Ghana’s Free Zones regime, including tax holidays, duty exemptions and unrestricted repatriation of profits.
The minister reaffirmed MoFAD’s commitment to leading a science-driven, inclusive and investment-ready transformation of Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector in close collaboration with strategic international partners.
She expressed confidence that strengthened cooperation with China would accelerate sustainable growth in the sector and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s blue economy agenda.
