BY: Shannell Oliver
Cape Coast, one of Ghana’s historic coastal hubs, offers a vivid snapshot of the country’s fishing industry, an industry that sustains millions of livelihoods but is now grappling with foreign competition, dwindling catches, and policy uncertainty.
The sector supports more than 2 million people, or roughly 10% of Ghana’s population, and contributes between 1% and 4.5% of GDP, generating over $500 million annually. Fish remains central to food security, providing 60% of the country’s animal protein intake, with per capita consumption above 20 kilograms a year. In coastal communities such as Cape Coast and Elmina, as many as three in four households depend on fishing or related activities.
For many, fishing is more than an occupation; it is a heritage passed down through generations. Shanell Oliver, an African American journalist based in Chicago who documents stories that connect the African diaspora, visited Cape Coast and spoke with those at the heart of the industry.
Prince, owner of Elmina Boat Cruise, recalled a very different past. “When I was a child, the catches were so big that fishermen would give fish away at the end of the night. Now, that doesn’t happen. Every year the catches get smaller and smaller,” he told Shanell Oliver. He warned that Chinese trawlers, illegal fishing by neighboring fleets, and government proposals for a “closed fishing season” are squeezing local operators. He added that most fishermen lack the training or tools to use modern navigation technology, leaving them at a disadvantage against foreign vessels.
Women, too, are central to the value chain. In Cape Coast, Aunty Mary has been smoking fish for more than a decade, working up to twelve hours a day over ovens and often living apart from her family to sustain her business. Her efforts ensure that fish reaches households nationwide. “The fish she smokes feeds households and helps prepare shito, a beloved Ghanaian side dish that connects kitchens across the country to the work being done at the shoreline,” Shanell Oliver observed.
Boatbuilding sustains the industry’s backbone. At a Cape Coast yard, veteran craftsman Master Kwaku Aug continues to build wooden vessels by hand, relying on generational knowledge rather than blueprints. “There is money here in Ghana,” he told Shanell Oliver. “If I left, I would have to struggle all over again and would not be respected as a master craftsman. I would be forced to start again as an apprentice in a foreign land. Here, in my homeland, my talents are recognized.”
Yet resilience is being tested. Elmina alone contributes about 15% of national fish output, but resources are under strain. The government has introduced a Fisheries Management Plan (2023–2027) and is stepping up action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Aquaculture now accounts for 15% of national production and is seen as a key growth area.
Still, industry voices caution that policy alone cannot bridge the gap. Declining fish stocks, weak enforcement, overcapacity, and limited access to modern technology require a careful balance between conservation and economic survival.
The path forward may lie in turning challenges into opportunities. Beyond regulation, the sector could attract significant private investment in areas such as cold storage and logistics, modernized fish processing, aquaculture expansion, and training in digital navigation and tracking systems. Financial institutions could back credit schemes for small-scale operators, while technology firms could introduce affordable tools to improve efficiency. Export markets for both fresh and processed fish also remain underdeveloped, offering scope for Ghana to capture more value regionally and under AfCFTA.
As Shanell Oliver’s reporting shows, investing in Ghana’s fishing industry is not only about sustaining GDP and food supply but also about unlocking growth opportunities that stretch across supply chains. With targeted support, the sector could move from survival mode toward becoming a competitive, modernized pillar of the economy, anchored in both tradition and innovation.
About the Author
Shanell Oliver, is an African American journalist based in Chicago, compelled to share stories that connect, educate, and inspire those within the African Diaspora. Her work seeks to bridge communities by highlighting the resilience and brilliance of African people worldwide.
Readers who want to see more of the stories of entrepreneurs in Elmina, and across Ghana, can tune into her docuseries “Africa The Beautiful” on her YouTube channel. You can also follow her on Instagram @thescattered1526 for more behind-the-scenes insights and storytelling from across the African continent.
