The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Hen Mpoano, implementing partners of the “Far Dwuma Nkodo” project have carried out extensive mapping on fish landing sites along the coast of Central, Greater Accra and Volta regions.
The move is to help support spatial planning and secure the landing sites for fishing communities in the context of coastal development.
The Fisheries Programmes Manager of EJF, Mr Socrates Segbor, said the project would address aspects of governance such as how to ensure access to fishing grounds and landing sites for small scale fishers in the face of competing priorities.
So far, 15 landing site maps have been sampled and composed into billboards with eight by four feet dimensions across 15 landing sites in the three beneficiary regions.
The maps were done after engagement with the chief fisherman and the Traditional Council with a land lease agreement signed, boundaries verified, site plan produced, indenture prepared detailing the size and use of the land for fishing-related purposes.
Additionally, a short guidance document has also been prepared to explain the registration process and disseminated to traditional authorities, chief fishermen and fisher-folks to assist in securing landing sites.
Mr Segbor said a signed indenture was handed over to the British Komenda Community and fisher-folks as a proof of ownership.
He said British Komenda was selected as the case study for the pilot project due to potential threats arising from planned works under the sea defence and erosion project and associated tourism and other development, which may compete with existing usage of the beachfront.
The 'Far Dwuma Nkodo' project, he said was promoting the implementation of international best practices for securing tenure rights and access to resources for artisanal fishers enshrined in the UN FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forest in the context of national food security.
He said the project would continue to build the capacities of community leaders to advocate for their informal yet legitimate tenure rights in accordance with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure where securing landing sites through formal land registration may not be feasible.
Team Leader and Head of the Sector Infrastructure and Sustainable Development Section, EU Delegation in Ghana, Mr Roberto Schiliro expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project.
He said coastal development on landing sites often prevented fishers from accessing fishing grounds that were crucial to their viability, presenting serious infringement on their legitimate tenure rights.
The 'Far Ndwuma Nkodo' project has, since 2017, been working to secure greater environmental sustainability and social equity in Ghana’s fisheries sector by building capacities of fishing communities in the sustainable management of their resources and supporting efforts to reduce illegal fishing.
Latest Stories
-
Brothers, is your libido worth your life? Let’s talk Blood Pressure, Herbal Mixtures, and Silent Deaths
5 minutes -
Over 5,000 delegates expected at NPP National Conference
2 hours -
NDPC Chairman calls for local economic development at UN HLPF
3 hours -
US tech CEO suspended after Coldplay concert embrace goes viral
4 hours -
Self-acclaimed Ashanti Regional Chairman of Delta Force arrested
5 hours -
Police nab three in Ashanti region for distributing fake insecticides from Nigeria
5 hours -
Detailed constitutional proposals for NPP Delegates Conference today
6 hours -
NPP holds National Delegates Conference Today
6 hours -
Asantehene calls for ‘Ghanaians first’ in mining concessions
9 hours -
See the 14 crucial NPP reforms proposed by the Council of Elders
10 hours -
59 proposals: Why the NPP is overhauling its constitution
10 hours -
Scrap ‘elitist’ Special Electoral College – Sir Obama tells NPP
10 hours -
Gov’t ramps up election security ahead of Akwatia by-election
10 hours -
Erpreben Travel & Tour donates air conditioners to Osu District Police Command
11 hours -
Amewuga campaign fights human trafficking, child marriage, others at Aflao border
12 hours