Ghana launches three-year fisheries reform project to curb illegal fishing

GHANA – Ghana’s fisheries sector, which contributes about 4% to national GDP and supports the livelihoods of nearly 10% of the population, is undergoing a major policy shift as the government rolls out a new three-year reform project aimed at improving fisheries management and strengthening compliance with global trade rules.

The initiative, launched on May 18 by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, is designed to accelerate Ghana’s implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which came into effect in September 2025.

The agreement seeks to limit harmful government subsidies that contribute to overfishing, including support for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, exploitation of overfished stocks, and fishing in unregulated high seas areas. 

Globally, more than 60% of fisheries subsidies are estimated to contribute to resource depletion, according to WTO data.

In Ghana, where annual fish production exceeds 400,000 tonnes, authorities estimate that illegal fishing activities alone result in losses of more than $23.7 million each year, placing pressure on coastal livelihoods and marine ecosystems.

The new programme is funded by the WTO Fisheries Fund and implemented in partnership with Global Fisheries and Resilience Action (GFRA), a Ghana-based NGO focused on fisheries sustainability and coastal community resilience.

Five-pillar reform framework targets transparency and sustainability

The project is structured around five key intervention areas aimed at improving governance and long-term resource management: subsidy monitoring, fish stock assessment, livelihood protection, value chain equity, and institutional governance.

Under the subsidy pillar, the programme will track and regulate public financial flows to ensure that state support does not encourage harmful or capacity-expanding fishing practices. 

The biological component will focus on monitoring fish stock levels to prevent overexploitation and support science-based management.

The livelihoods pillar is intended to protect income sources for coastal and artisanal fishing communities. 

In contrast, the distributional pillar will promote fairness across the fisheries value chain, with a focus on gender inclusion and support for women involved in the sector. 

The governance pillar will strengthen regulatory systems, transparency, and institutional coordination.

An 11-member steering committee has been established to oversee implementation. 

It will hold monthly coordination meetings, conduct stakeholder consultations, and carry out quarterly performance reviews to ensure compliance with WTO commitments.

Government highlights long-term sustainability goals

Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, said the initiative is essential for both international compliance and domestic sector resilience.

“This project is essential not only to meet Ghana’s international commitments, but also to ensure the long-term sustainability of the country’s fisheries sector and coastal economy,” she said. 

“Effective compliance is not just about meeting international obligations. It is also about ensuring that our fisheries remain productive, fair and sustainable for future generations.”

The ministry noted that the first tranche of funding has already been disbursed to support early implementation activities, including the rollout of compliance and monitoring systems.

Officials say the programme marks a shift toward more transparent and data-driven fisheries governance, aligning Ghana with global efforts to reduce pressure on marine ecosystems while safeguarding food security and coastal employment.

With illegal fishing continuing to undermine productivity in many coastal states, Ghana’s reform agenda is expected to serve as a key test case for implementing WTO fisheries subsidy disciplines in West Africa.

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