The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to reviving aquaculture businesses affected by recent setbacks, following a working visit to selected fish farms in the South Tongu District.
The visit was aimed at assessing the impact of operational challenges on fish farmers and engaging stakeholders on measures to strengthen the sector and restore livelihoods.
Accompanied by the District Chief Executive Victoria Dzeklo and Mr Maxwell Kwame Lukutor, the Member of Parliament of South Tongu, , the Minister toured Fish and Feed , and Flossel Farms, where she interacted with the operators and staff.
During the engagement, farmers outlined challenges confronting the industry, including rising input costs, fish diseases, security concerns, and the devastating effects of the Akosombo Dam spillage, which reportedly led to heavy losses and forced some operators to suspend activities.
Ms Arthur commended the resilience and innovation of the farmers despite the setbacks and encouraged them to deepen collaboration with the Ministry to scale up production and improve resilience within the sector.
Mr Lukutor and Ms Dzeklo, appealed for special intervention for fish farmers affected by the spillage, calling for a separate compensation package to support recovery and sustain jobs within the district.
They also praised the farmers for their contribution to employment creation and local economic development, noting that aquaculture remained a critical livelihood source for many households in the area.
The Minister assured stakeholders that their concerns had been noted and pledged to advocate for appropriate compensation and policy support to help affected farmers recover and reposition the aquaculture sector for growth.
Source: Access Agric
