Fisheries Commission inaugurates national-level fisheries co-management committees with support from GFRA

The Fisheries Commission (FC) has officially established two national-level fisheries co-management committees, the Scientific and Technical Committee (STC) and the Fisheries Management Operational Committee (FMOC), with support from GFRA, a non-governmental organization focused on sustainable development and community resilience.

The inauguration ceremonies, held on September 15, 2026, in Accra, signify a significant step in implementing Ghana's Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), which empowers the FC to create committees to support effective fisheries management. The STC, chaired by Dr. Angela Lamptey, will provide scientific and technical advice on fisheries management, with its scope now expanded to include inland fisheries and aquaculture.

The FMOC, chaired by Mr. Daniel Owusu, will translate these recommendations into coordinated operational actions, such as developing annual implementation plans and coordinating stakeholders. Together, the committees aim to bridge the gap between scientific input and management implementation, fostering collaboration among government institutions, experts, and fisheries stakeholders.

GFRA, in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Foundation and Hen Mpoano, is implementing the Inshore Exclusion Zone Enforcement and Transparency (IEZET) Project, which received financial support from Oceans 5, a Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors-sponsored project.