Advertisement

Ms Sherry Ayittey (3rd left), Minister of MoFAD, being assisted by Mrs Molly Anim Addo (3rd right), Ghana Ambassador to Italy, and other officials to cut the tape to open the Expo

Fostering bonds between Ghana and Italy

Ghana’s participation in international fairs on fishing and fisheries products, especially within the European Union (EU), came to a temporary halt following a fish export ban placed on the country.

The ban, which was placed in 2013, came as a result of the country’s failure to keep up with the international obligations to fight illegal fishing.

 

The European Commission identified concrete shortcomings such as lack of actions to address deficiencies in monitoring, controlling and surveillance of fisheries, and suggested corrective actions to resolve them.

But quite recently, the EU has lifted the fish export ban, thereby reactivating fisheries and allied businesses between the two countries.

It was following this development that Ghana joined the just ended Blue Sea Land Expo 2015 in Italy.

Mazara Del Vallo, the most important fishing port in the Sicily Region of Italy, played host to over 40 countries from the Mediterranean, African and the greater Middle Eastern agro food and fishing sectors.

Ghana was a main partner of the event.

The theme, “Think Blue, Make Peace,” was premised on the fact that the ‘Blue Economy,’ thrived on the preservation, sustainability as well as the compatible development of the marine and terrestrial environments.

The stakeholders who met at the fair in Italy agreed that the blue economy could create jobs and economic opportunities linked to the sea and coastal resources within four specific sustainability areas of economic, social, environmental and cultural integration based on a regular sharing of ideas and trending technology.

Relation between Ghana and Italy

Ghana and Italy enjoy a long- standing relationship and actively cooperate in many fields, such as engineering, construction industries, oil and gas and renewable energy.

Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy, Mrs Molly Anim Addo, said the visit of President John Mahama to Rome and Milan in July 2015 was a tangible sign of friendship between the two countries.

According to her, the economic ties were further strengthened when the Government of Ghana signed a bilateral agreement with ENI SpA, an Italian multinational oil and gas company.

She said the Blue Economy was in line with Ghana’s aspirations to develop its fishery sector, and added that it fitted into the strategy of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development of Italy to improve on the entire chain of fisheries and aquaculture.

“It was against this backdrop that the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), scripted a new anthem of liberation in a form of memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the fish production district of Mazara Del Vallo to promote the fishing sector in Ghana,” she said.

The move, according to her, would enable the diversification of the economy and the development of a network of activities related to the fishery sector based on the blue economy, a model of Mazara Del Vallo’s economic and social development.

Mrs Anim Addo said the outcome of the agreement was set to bud and bloom in the next few months, stressing that it was poised to become the pivot of Ghana’s blue economy.

Areas of intervention in the MOU

Some of the  areas of collaboration under the MOU included the  development of fishery ports in Ghana, construction and maintenance of fishing boats, building of electronic and mechanical workshops, setting up of boat equipment stores to supply nets, safety systems, engines and establishment of training schools, universities, research  centres for innovation and technology transfer.

Others are the construction of fish markets, cold chain and production of ice (refrigeration industry), fish processing and packaging plants, storage and marketing of fishery products and processing of fish waste to produce fish meal and oil for cosmetics, among others.

An equally important topic of interest captured in the agreement included development of catering and tourism sectors related to a traditional economic activity such as fishery.

The parties would also activate some collaboration in other sectors as sustainable fishing of tuna, fighting against illegal fishing, development of renewable sources of energy, fish health, food security, production and commercialisation of salt.

Showcasing Ghana’s fishery sector in Italy

Showcasing the resource-rich Ghana as an emerging land of opportunity for global investors, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Ms Sherry Ayittey, said fishing in Ghana was very similar to that of Sicily, with specialised boats for fishing tuna and fishing in coastal and inland waters, with a regulatory approach that provided the contrast to illegal fishing and the proper usage of fishing gear.

She said Ghana generated over one billion US dollars revenue from fishing each year, accounting for 4.6 per cent of its GDP.

She noted that, the country had developed about 310 beach landing sites scattered around 189 coastal fishing villages and that it was part of the government’s strategy of transforming the sector.

"It is essential to work together to use the technologies in fishing because the transfer of knowledge contributes significantly to improving the living conditions and food security. I invite you all to visit the exhibition area of Ghana where you will discover possibilities for trade and investments for our common benefit," She said.

A fashion show and food bazaar, promoted by the Consulate of Ghana in Palermo, climaxed the event.

Different kinds of food typical of Ghana and Tunisia were some of the dishes one could taste at the stand of Mama Africa.

The President of the Production District Fishing, Giovanni Tumbiolo, said the event would not only promote the excellence of fish and food of Italy, but would also be an opportunity for fruitful reflection on the importance of the blue economy and an ever closer cooperation between Italy and emerging African economies.

Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |