The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gomoa Central, Mr Benjamin Kojo Otoo, has presented fingerlings to 50 Aquaculture trainees to begin their businesses to enhance economic development and poverty reduction.

Each of the trainees received 1,700 fingerlings, six bags of fish feed and a tarpaulin pond totalling GHC 38,000 as part of the efforts to support the programme successfully.

Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture has initiated a new programme dubbed ‘Aquaculture for food and jobs’ aimed at creating opportunities for the unemployed youth to get access to jobs and wealth.

Speaking to the media after the presentation, Mr Otoo said the initiative by the government was also to buck up the fish deficit since the ocean fisheries stock was fast diminishing due to illegal means and other unauthorised foreign pair trawling activities.

He said another area which had also been affected seriously was the pollution of water bodies through illegal mining operations that had reduced fishing activities in rivers.

Mr Otoo said the alternative would go a long way to empower the youth economically and further create more opportunities for others to enjoy the programme.

According to the DCE, the Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia government had proved the commitment to better the lots of the Ghanaian youth, adding that the government could reduce abject poverty.

Mr Fredrick Otoo, a beneficiary from Gomoa Aboso Electoral Area who spoke to the media, thanked the government for the opportunity given to them that would go a long way to enhance their standard of living, particularly among the youth.

He said the government had enough strategic plans for the youth in the country and therefore urged them to join forces to support its activities to ensure economic growth.