Investment and export development opportunities in Ghana’s fisheries sector came into focus following discussions between the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and representatives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, held talks with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Dr. Abdulla Murad Sulaiman Mohammed Al Mandoos, at the UAE Embassy in Accra, where both sides explored investment prospects across fish production, exports and mariculture development.
The discussions also support Ghana’s broader strategy of leveraging fisheries and aquaculture for economic diversification, with increasing emphasis on strengthening value chains, improving sustainability and expanding production capacity.
According to the minister, discussions centered on strategic collaboration in fish production, export expansion and investments in mariculture, an area largely viewed as an opportunity to reduce pressure on marine fish stocks while expanding commercial aquaculture output.
Al Mandoos reportedly expressed the UAE’s interest in partnering with Ghana on ocean-related initiatives and sustainable investment opportunities, stressing the need to understand Ghana’s priorities and experiences to build what he described as “impactful” and “lasting partnerships.”
The discussions also touched on compliance and governance considerations within the sector. Arthur highlighted the importance of “strengthening compliance” through collaboration with development partners while expanding investment opportunities in aquaculture-related activities.
The policy emphasis aligns with recent positions taken by the ministry on strengthening governance structures, improving transparency and promoting sustainable management practices within fisheries. The government has in recent months signaled stronger attention to monitoring systems, institutional reforms and broader blue economy initiatives intended to improve sector resilience and investor confidence.
The engagement reflected a shared commitment to explore additional areas of cooperation to support job creation, improve food security outcomes and stimulate broader economic activity within Ghana’s fisheries industry, while deeper UAE involvement could provide financing and technical collaboration to support modernization of fisheries production systems and strengthen export competitiveness in regional and international markets.
