Ghana’s fisheries sector lacking transparency, reveals new report
Ghana’s fisheries sector has been identified as an area where transparency gaps exist, according to a recent Taking Stock Transparency Assessment report by the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) and the Centre for Maritime Law and Security Africa (CEMLAWS Africa). The report, which was launched in Accra, Ghana, highlights that there is limited public access to updated, accurate and easily accessible fisheries data.
Despite the vibrancy injected into Ghana’s Fisheries sector in recent years, the report reveals that it still lacks the adequate level of transparency required to lead the country on a path of social, environmental and economic prosperity and sustainability. Stakeholders at the report launch unanimously recommended that Ghana should join the FiTI to deepen information access across its marine fisheries value chain for sustainability.
Sven Biermann, the executive director of FiTI, stated that the purpose of the study was to lead Ghana’s fisheries sector towards transparency and sustainable development. He added that public access to information is crucial for better governance of fisheries. However, this cannot happen if one side does not have access to information to understand what is exactly happening.
The Fisheries Transparency Initiative is an international multi-stakeholder effort that provides a unique global framework to help coastal countries to increase the credibility and quality of national fisheries information towards the sustainability of marine fisheries. The initiative provides a platform for governments, the private sector, and civil society to work together towards sustainable fisheries management.
Moses Anim, the deputy minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, acknowledged the gaps identified in the report and committed to taking steps to address them. He also called on FiTI, CEMLAWS Africa and Bloomberg Philanthropies to help Ghana implement the report recommendations.
Dr. Kamal Deen-Ali, the Team Lead at CEMLAWS Africa, is of the view that addressing the transparency gaps would require a certain level of digital infrastructure to be able to provide adequate access to information. He emphasised that the government must provide the requisite digital infrastructure to host the information and to make it available. It may require some recruitment, refresher training, and a certain level of expertise at the Ministry and the Fisheries commission to achieve this.
The assessment report by FiTI and CEMLAWS Africa highlights the need for transparency in Ghana’s fisheries sector. The stakeholders’ unanimous recommendation for Ghana to join the Fisheries Transparency Initiative to deepen information access across its marine fisheries value chain for sustainability is a step in the right direction. However, the report’s findings suggest that the government needs to address the transparency gaps by providing the necessary digital infrastructure, recruitment, training, and expertise to ensure adequate access to information.
