Let’s protect fisheries sector, exports
It is an open fact that the progress and development that we crave for as a country cannot be attained if we continue on the path of being an import-dependent economy.
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That is because our continuous dependence on the importation of foreign goods without a corresponding export of our local produce remains the bane of our economy and accounts for the erratic switches in the parity rate of the cedi against the major international trading currencies, especially the dollar.
While we make conscious efforts to ensure that we promote the culture of exporting made-in-Ghana goods in order to rake in more foreign exchange, we must take steps also to protect sectors of the economy that currently engage in exports.
That is why it became worrisome when the European Union (EU) banned the export of fish and fish products from Ghana two years ago.
The European Commission handed out a formal warning – ‘yellow card’ – to Ghana in 2013 as the country failed to keep up with the international obligations to fight illegal fishing.
The 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.
Recently, some Ghanaian vegetables were banned from the European market. The Daily Graphic is aware that efforts are being made to reverse the ban on the selected vegetables.
Thankfully, the ban on the export of fish and fish products from the country was recently lifted following significant structural reforms in the fisheries management system of the country.
The EU said it had recognised that Ghana now had the legal and administrative framework to fully meet its responsibilities as a coastal, flag, port and export state, to prevent, fight and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities (IUU).
The Daily Graphic also recognises efforts being made to protect the sector, which is evident in the inauguration of a fish data centre which aims at developing and operating a robust registry system to record and track relevant sector data to support policy decision making, sector-strategic formation, as well as industry monitoring and evaluation.
It is our expectation that these reforms that are taking place in the fisheries sector will not end up being a nine days’ wonder but will be sustained and closely monitored so that we do not experience a relapse that will result in a ban being placed on our exports.
We urge the authorities to expedite actions to have the ban on the selected vegetables lifted to bring relief to all in the sector, especially the farmers and exporters whose livelihood depends on it.