Aquaculture production on the Volta Lake for food and jobs: Lessons to be learned from Ghana

Session: Interacting Threats on the African Great Lakes

Isaac Nyameke, Ghana Aquaculture and Fish Network, [email protected]
Daniel Obeng, Ghana Aquaculture and Fish Network, [email protected]

Abstract

Ghana is one of the highest fish consuming countries in the world (950, 000 tons per annual worth US$135 million: 26 kg per capital consumption rate above the world average of 13 kg). To reduce its fish importation and ensure fish availability for Ghanaian consumers, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture embarked on a massive aquaculture production through private sector initiatives. In 2000, the first cage fish farm was established on the Volta Lake, at 2017, there were over 140 cages fish farms producing over 76,000 metric tons of tilapia, creating over 2,500 permanent jobs and 10,000 temporary workers for the communities’ members living along the Volta Lake. Aquaculture production on Volta  has not alone contributed positively to livelihoods and food security but also introduced some negative social and environment impacts such as conflicts between some of the community members and the farm owners; as well as water pollution. To ensure sustainability, Fish Health Policy, Aquaculture Legal framework and Zonation sites were developed to provide guidelines for disease prevention and the suitable locations for fish farms. Based on the outcome, this paper recommends other countries to learn from Ghana political, social, environmental and ecological, lessons to enhance aquaculture production.