Ghana to establish aquaculture development fund to boost local fish production
The government plans to create a financing mechanism to expand aquaculture’s role in food security and employment.
GHANA – The Ghanaian government is taking steps to establish a development fund to drive the growth of the aquaculture industry, which currently accounts for a small share of the country’s fish supply compared to marine and inland fishing.
Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang announced the plan during the Aquaculture Ghana 2025 conference held on October 30 and 31 in Accra, highlighting that the initiative is designed to make financing more accessible to fish farmers while supporting infrastructure development and research.
The proposed fund is expected to play a central role in strengthening the aquaculture value chain, from production to technology adoption, with the goal of transforming the sector into a key pillar of Ghana’s food security and job creation agenda.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Ghana’s aquaculture output nearly doubled between 2019 and 2023, growing from 52,360 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes.
This growth means aquaculture now provides close to 20% of the country’s total fish production, which stood at 484,412 tonnes in 2023.
However, despite the steady rise in output, aquaculture continues to face deep-seated challenges, including high production costs, expensive energy, fish diseases, and limited access to modern technologies.
Access to affordable credit also remains a hurdle for many small-scale farmers who dominate the sector, and the government hopes the proposed fund will help bridge this financing gap.
Closing Ghana’s Fish Supply Gap
Ghana’s domestic fish consumption stands at about 24.6 kilograms per person per year, and demand continues to outstrip supply.
Official figures from 2021 show that the country recorded a fish supply shortfall of more than 640,000 tonnes, forcing increased reliance on imports to meet local consumption needs.
Industry observers believe that addressing this deficit will require sustained investment in aquaculture, particularly in improving feed quality, expanding hatchery capacity, and supporting private sector participation.
Currently, aquaculture activities are concentrated in the Eastern Region, Greater Accra, and the Volta Region, which together account for roughly 82% of total national production.
The government’s planned fund is expected to help spread production to other regions while encouraging innovation and knowledge sharing among producers.
Although no timeline or budget details have been disclosed, officials say the fund’s establishment marks a key step in Ghana’s efforts to diversify its fisheries sector and reduce pressure on marine resources.
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