Some government workers and farmers in the Ashanti region have benefited from a fish farming training programme for self-employment even after retirement.

The training comes on the back of calls for government workers to access entrepreneurial skills to venture into their own businesses after retirement.

It was organized by the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research aimed at equipping participants with entrepreneurial and business management skills. 

About 14 percent of Ghanaians within the retirement age bracket receive a pension.

As of 2018, there were close to 1.9 million people in Ghana aged 60 years, with about 270,000 of the figure receiving pensions.

Many pensioners have had to rely on meagre financial sources to fend for themselves. 

Director of the Crops Research Institute, Prof. Moses Mochiah, underscored the relevance of the programme.

“We realized people need resources to venture into fish farming of late, but we sat down to develop a collapsible fishpond that all farmers can easily afford.

“People have also complained about not having anything to do during pension,” he said.

The 2-day training availed participants with aquaculture, and business management and planning skills.

The acquired skills would enable participants harness their limited resources to make a living.

Dr. Jonas Osei-Adu, an economist at the Crops Research Institute, facilitated the training.

“The participants were taken through the technical aspects of how to raise a fishpond, fish management and disease control.

“They were also taught business plan development. We want them to establish their own enterprises. So they were taken through a financial and marketing plan for funding,” he said.

Some participants said the training has been impactful.

“I originally assumed that one needed to dig a ground to make a fishpond, but through this training I’ve been taught I can use these mobile fishponds for farming.

“I’ve also learnt about seeking financial support,” Yaw Nketiah Yeboah, a participant, said.