Canoe fishermen and chief fishermen along Ghana’s coastline have been urged to intensify efforts to combat illegal fishing and protect marine resources to safeguard livelihoods and ensure sustainable fish production.
The President of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, Nana Joojo Solomon, made the call at the inauguration of 29 chief fishermen from the southern part of the Volta Region into the council at the Jamestown Fishing Harbour on Friday, October 16, 2026.
He urged traditional authorities and fishing leaders to work together to enforce fisheries regulations and eliminate illegal fishing practices, particularly light fishing.
Nana Solomon said chief fishermen were accountable to their traditional authorities, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the council, urging them to respect those lines of authority.
He cited Jamestown as an example, saying the community had eliminated light fishing, and challenged other chief fishermen to emulate the initiative.
“If your colleague has been able to create a landing beach free of light fishing, then you should also be able to do it. Take it up as a challenge and let us move the industry forward,” he said.
He cautioned the newly inducted leaders against conducting themselves in ways that suggested they were superior to their traditional authorities.
Premix fuel
The Administrator of the National Premix Secretariat, Ebow Mensah, urged the new leaders to demonstrate integrity, unite fishing communities and represent the interests of all fishers.
He called for stronger collaboration with premix committees to ensure subsidised fuel reached its intended beneficiaries at landing beaches.
Mr Mensah urged the leaders to help prevent the diversion, hoarding and unauthorised sale of premix fuel and promote transparent accounting for the 53 per cent Community Development Fund.
The Paramount Chief of Kedzi and representative of the Awadada of Anlo, Togbe Agbesi Awusu II, Togbe Joachim Acolatse I, said the council would prioritise the welfare of fishermen and fish processors while pursuing the eradication of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
He identified light fishing, prohibited fishing nets and illegal activities by foreign trawlers as threats to marine resources.
The Regional Chairman of the Canoe Council for Southern Volta, Togbe Doe Nkekeshie, also emphasised collective action to protect marine resources and secure fishing communities’ future.
The Maritime Officer of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr Collins Nana Andoh, urged chief fishermen to report illegal activities and pollution in Ghana’s waters.
