The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hawa Koomson has revealed the Ministry’s intention to establish a National Fish Festival.

The Festival which will be in line with the celebration of International Fisheries Day is expected to showcase the fisheries and aquaculture sector of the country as a formidable and thriving sector.

According to her, the celebration is expected to position the sector as a prime avenue for investments, while providing opportunities for employment, value addition, and wealth creation.

Madam Hawa Koomson made this known in a speech delivered in Cape Coast to mark the National Farmers’ Day celebration. This year’s celebration is under the theme, “Planting for food and jobs – Consolidating food systems in Ghana.”

She said, “Beginning next year, the Ministry will institute the national fish festival to commemorate the celebration of international fisheries day as done in other countries. It is the expectation of the ministry that such an event will offer the platform to showcase the fisheries and aquaculture sector.”

She added that the Sector so far has been contributing immensely to the development of the country while enabling the government to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals.

“The fisheries and aquaculture sector as a segment of Ghana’s food system alone employs an estimated 3 million people along the value chain. The sector also provides about 60% [protein needs] of Ghanaians and on the average 200 million dollars in export of fish and fishery products annually.

“It also contributes approximately 1% to GDP as well as $1 billion in revenue. The importance of the sector to Ghana’s food system, therefore, cannot be underestimated,” she stated.