The Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, in partnership with the World Economic Forum and other development partners, has held a one-day validation workshop in Accra to solicit key proposals from stakeholders within Ghana’s blue economy sector. The initiative aims to drive progressive change and deliver sustainable jobs across the continent.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Univers News, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Jacob Adzika, revealed that the organisation is tapping into the global development space to support Ghanaian aquaculture entities through the Blue Food Innovation programme. The initiative seeks to unlock sustainable financing and expand market access for products within the blue food economy to support national economic development.
“Globally, the blue economy is generating billions of dollars for countries that have prioritised harnessing the sector to create decent jobs and sustain livelihoods for stakeholders. With this vision, the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana and its development partners—key among them the World Economic Forum—are committed to establishing the Blue Food Innovation Hub on the continent, with its strategic office in Ghana, given the country’s vast ocean resources,” he said.
Mr Adzika also noted that the Chamber is partnering with the government, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and other allied agencies, to fully harness opportunities within the blue food ecosystem, both locally and internationally. This, he said, comes as the sector increasingly embraces technology and innovation to maximise economic returns for both private and public actors.
“The core design and strategic objectives of the Blue Food Innovation Hub are to partner with government to provide an enabling environment and policy interventions to harness the vast potential of the blue economy. This aligns with national development objectives established by the state some years ago under the auspices of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development,” he added.
The validation workshop, held at the Marriott Hotel in Accra, brought together policymakers, industry practitioners, private sector leaders, academia, donor partners, and members of the general public.
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Story by Sika Togoh |univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
