Proposed investments in a Shama Fishing Harbour and a modern fish market are expected to improve livelihoods and expand economic participation for women in the fisheries sector, as government seeks to strengthen long-term sector resilience.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, said feasibility studies are underway for the construction of the Shama Fishing Harbour, a project being pursued under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama to support local economic activity and improve conditions within the fishing industry.
The initiative is expected to be complemented by a modern fish market in Shama aimed at creating employment opportunities, particularly for women involved in fish roasting, frying, and trading.
The announcements were made during a community dialogue organised in Shama by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture in partnership with the Fisheries Commission and the Global Fisheries Resilience Action (GFRA), where stakeholders examined pathways to strengthen women’s participation in the fisheries sector.
Arthur described women as being at the centre of fisheries activities, noting their role across processing, preservation, marketing, trading, and financing operations. She said women remain the sector’s “central drivers,” despite facing challenges including limited infrastructure and declining fish stocks.
She indicated that interventions aimed at improving fish processing techniques are also being introduced to protect both public health and economic activity, stressing the need to safeguard “health and livelihoods” simultaneously.
The Minister further highlighted the importance of sustainable fishing practices and called for compliance with close season regulations and designated non-fishing days, warning that breaches would attract sanctions as authorities seek to protect fish stocks and secure long-term sector viability.
On child labour concerns within fishing communities, Arthur urged stakeholders to consider local socio-economic conditions, maintaining that the issue becomes problematic when children are “denied access to education,” while emphasizing that educational opportunities should not be compromised.
District Chief Executive for Shama, Paul Otis Dentu, encouraged greater investment in women’s training and inclusion efforts to help improve product quality and reduce the circulation of poor-quality fish in the market.
The dialogue also featured educational sessions by Fisheries Commission officials on proper fish handling and processing practices, while encouraging women to take advantage of emerging opportunities and empowerment initiatives, pointing to women’s “strong repayment records” as a factor supporting access to financing.
