Government has announced plans to introduce new innovations to support the Aquaculture Chamber’s Blue Food Innovation Hub, aimed at significantly reducing post-harvest losses in Ghana’s aquaculture sector.
Chief Director at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Marian Kpakpah, says the initiative is critical to boosting local fish production and curbing the country’s heavy reliance on fish imports. She made this known at a validation workshop held to review the draft strategy and governance framework for the proposed Hub.
According to her, post-harvest losses remain one of the biggest challenges confronting aquaculture development in Ghana, eroding profits for fish farmers and weakening the overall value chain. She stressed that innovation-driven solutions will be central to addressing these gaps and improving efficiency across production, processing and distribution.
“ We see the hub supporting our efforts in fingerling genetics, finding cost effective feed alternatives, introducing smart aquaculture systems and climate adaptive fishing technologies and digital tools foe efficient production, we also see the hub championing for efforts to ensure a sustainable value chain”, she said.
The validation workshop brought together key industry players, policymakers, researchers and fish farmers to examine the draft framework designed to guide the operations of the Blue Food Innovation Hub. Participants reviewed the document and offered recommendations to strengthen its focus on inclusive growth, capacity building and technology adoption.
Stakeholders proposed that the Hub works closely with fish farmers, particularly smallholder operators, by providing targeted training, facilitating access to modern and adaptive technologies, and supporting value addition to improve market competitiveness.
Addressing the gathering, Madam Kpakpah underscored the need for innovation to be embedded across the aquaculture value chain, noting that a resilient and competitive sector is essential to ensuring food security, creating jobs and driving economic growth.
Chairman of the Chamber of Aquaculture, Dr. Enim Somuah, said the Blue Food Innovation Hub has the potential to transform Ghana’s aquaculture industry.
He noted that by fostering collaboration, innovation and skills development, the Hub could unlock new opportunities for fish farmers and agribusinesses while contributing significantly to national development.
The establishment of the Blue Food Innovation Hub is expected to serve as a catalyst for modernising aquaculture practices, improving yields, reducing post-harvest losses and safeguarding livelihoods across the entire value chain, as Ghana pushes to strengthen domestic fish production and build a more sustainable blue economy.
The Validation workshop was organized by the Chamber of Aquaculture, World Economic Forum and partners.