Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Donates to Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences to Enhance Aquaculture Training and Fish Processing Research

Hon. Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), has donated four tarpaulin tanks, 250 bags of fish feed and an oven installation to the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Ghana.

This generous donation is intended to bolster the department’s aquaculture training programme, support the government’s Aquaculture for Food and Jobs project and advance fish processing research and African fish culture at the Department.

Speaking at a brief event to hand over the donated items, Dr. Benjamin Botwe, Head of the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, highlighted the department's significant contributions to education, research and training in fisheries, aquaculture, coastal management and marine science.

He noted that the department offers a range of programmes, including BSc. Marine Science, BSc. Fisheries Science, MSc. Fisheries Management, MSc. Coastal Management, MSc. Aquaculture, MPhil. Aquaculture, MPhil. Marine Science, MPhil. Fisheries Science, PhD Marine Science and PhD Fisheries Science.

Dr. Botwe also pointed out that the department attracts both Ghanaian and international students from countries such as Benin, Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway and the USA. “The department is involved in collaborations with local and foreign institutions on projects focused on sustainable management and utilisation of marine, fisheries and aquaculture resources” he indicated.

Prof. Augustine Ocloo, Dean of Biological Sciences, expressed gratitude to the department’s founders and acknowledged their active role and impact in the country. He also mentioned the challenge of inadequate infrastructure and appealed for further assistance from the Ministry.

Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, emphasised the importance of partnerships for the university's growth and noted recent successful collaborations. He reaffirmed the College’s commitment to completing infrastructure projects with government support to enhance fisheries and marine research.

Prof. Francis Nunoo, Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education representing Hon. Hawa Koomson in remarks at the event, highlighted the Aquaculture for Food and Jobs initiative’s goals of increasing food supply and generating employment. He stressed the potential of the donation to train future trainers and challenged the department to generate impactful research, particularly in the feed and aquaculture sectors.

Mr. David Aidoo, Coordinator of Aquaculture for Food and Jobs, noted Ghana’s high fish consumption rate and the initiative’s aim to encourage interest in fisheries from the senior high school level through provision of adequate facilities.

The donation is seen as a significant step towards enhancing the Department's capabilities and contributing to the broader goals of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Ghana.

The newly acquired tarpaulin tanks and fish feed will support the Department’s fish culture processes, complementing their purchase of 4000 African catfish fingerlings from R&B Farms. Previously, practical training required transporting students to external fish farms and processing centres, incurring high transportation costs. The new facilities are expected to alleviate these costs and improve practical training.

The Department has also developed specialised courses, including the Executive Master of Fisheries Administration and Management (EMFAM), with the first cohort comprising employees from the Fisheries Commission. Additionally, the Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority of Liberia to extend training to staff in the West African sub-region.