The Governing Board of the Fisheries Commission (FC), with support from GFRA—Global Fisheries and Resilience Action, through the Inshore Exclusion Zone Enforcement and Transparency (IEZET) Project, has inaugurated two national-level fisheries co-management committees.
The committees are the Scientific and Technical Committee (STC) and the Fisheries Management Operational Committee (FMOC).
The inauguration marks a significant step towards strengthening participatory, science-based and coordinated fisheries management under Ghana’s new fisheries law.
The two committees were inaugurated in separate ceremonies held at the Fisheries Commission Conference Room in Accra on September 15, 2026.
The inaugurations form part of broader efforts to align Ghana’s fisheries co-management structures with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), while strengthening their institutional and legal foundations.
Under Sections 11 and 13 of the Act, the Governing Board of the Fisheries Commission is empowered to establish committees, including co-management committees, to support the effective management of Ghana’s fisheries resources.
The inaugurations therefore mark an important step towards implementing the co-management provisions of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025, while promoting structured stakeholder participation, strengthening scientific and technical input, and improving coordinated decision-making in fisheries management.
In his welcome remarks, Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Professor Benjamin Campion, outlined the governance arrangements under the new Fisheries and Aquaculture Act and highlighted the respective roles of the Governing Board, the Fisheries Commission and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Ghana’s fisheries governance framework.
Speaking at the ceremonies, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Fisheries Commission, Professor Wisdom Akpalu, emphasised the importance of the committees in promoting science-based, evidence-informed and participatory fisheries management.
“We are depending on you to proof test all the scientific … and technical work that will come to your committee,” he stated, urging members to critically assess the recommendations emerging from their committees to support sustainable fisheries management in Ghana.
The Scientific and Technical Committee (STC), chaired by Dr Angela Lamptey, is responsible for providing scientific and technical advice to guide fisheries management decisions. Under its revised mandate, the Committee’s scope now covers inland fisheries and aquaculture, in addition to its existing responsibilities for marine fisheries.
The Fisheries Management Operational Committee (FMOC), chaired by Mr Daniel Owusu, is responsible for translating scientific and technical advice into coordinated action. Its functions include developing annual implementation plans, coordinating activities among relevant divisions of the Fisheries Commission and other stakeholder institutions, and ensuring that institutional representation complies with the requirements of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025.
Together, the two committees are expected to strengthen the link between scientific and technical advice and the implementation of fisheries management measures, while providing structured platforms for collaboration among government institutions, technical experts and fisheries stakeholders.
GFRA—Global Fisheries and Resilience Action—is a non-governmental organisation committed to sustainable development and community resilience, with a particular focus on coastal communities and marine ecosystems. Through technical implementation, policy advocacy and multi-stakeholder engagement, GFRA provides technical, policy and extension support while promoting integrated and inclusive management of coastal and marine environments.
The Inshore Exclusion Zone Enforcement and Transparency (IEZET) Project is led by GFRA in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Hen Mpoano. The project supports the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission in implementing key provisions of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025, including stronger enforcement of the extended Inshore Exclusion Zone and fisheries transparency measures.
The project is funded by Oceans 5, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.