The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) is intensifying calls for stronger unionisation in Ghana’s seafood industry, saying it is key to safeguarding workers’ welfare and improving productivity in the largely informal sector.
Speaking at the opening of the GAWU–International Seafood Workers Conference in Accra, GAWU General Secretary Andrew Addoquaye Tagoe stressed that union structures remain absent in most companies.
“The fisheries industry has suffered. Apart from a few companies like Tropo Farms and West Africa Farms, where unions exist, most of the sector has none. It is survival of the fittest. People work at sea without labour inspectors monitoring conditions, which has led to widespread exploitation on vessels.
“Through our union, we are putting systems in place so workers have conditions of service, collective agreements, and improved collaboration with boat owners to ensure their safety,” Tagoe said.
Acting General Secretary of the IUF, Kristjan Bragason, urged African trade unions to deepen regional collaboration to strengthen advocacy for seafood workers.
“Working together regionally builds collective strength, and that regional strength can help shape global policies,” he said.
Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, highlighted the role of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions in transforming lives, noting Ghana’s leadership as one of the first African countries to ratify key provisions.
Representing the Minister of Fisheries, Ishmael Nii Adjei Browne, Director of Research, Statistics, and Information Management at the ministry, underscored the sector’s central role in food security, nutrition, and employment.
He revealed that fisheries employ an estimated three million Ghanaians and provide about 60% of the country’s animal protein needs.
Despite its importance, the industry faces mounting challenges, including declining fish stocks, climate change impacts, and labour rights violations.
Stakeholders at the conference agreed that addressing these issues requires stronger unions, policy reforms, and broader advocacy to safeguard both livelihoods and national food security.
