Ghana spends $200m annually to import fish – Akufo-Addo as he laments impact of illegal fishing

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lamented the negative impact of illegal fishing on the economy.

Mr Akufo-Addo said illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activities have contributed significantly to a decline in fish stocks.

To that end, he said, Ghana is compelled to spend some two hundred million dollars (US$200 million) annually to import fish to shore up our fish requirements.

“On Friday, 11th February 2022, at the invitation of H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, I participated in the One Ocean Summit, held in Brest, France.

“I indicated, in my remarks, that, in Ghana, illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activities have contributed significantly to a decline in fish stocks.

“As such, we are compelled to spend some two hundred million dollars (US$200 million) annually to import fish to shore up our fish requirements.

“To curb the menace of illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activities, a National Plan of Action is being implemented. Components of this Plan include fish catch certification, reactivation and installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS), automatic identification system (AIS) on vessels, port and beach inspections, and sea patrols. Ghana also supports the principle of a global convention in this area,” he wrote on Facebook after his address.