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

The Governing Board of the Fisheries Commission (FC), supported by GFRA, inaugurated two national-level fisheries co-management committees in Accra on 15 September 2026. These committees, the Scientific and Technical Committee (STC) and the Fisheries Management Operational Committee (FMOC), represent a significant step in strengthening participatory, science-based, and coordinated fisheries management under Ghana's new fisheries law.

The inauguration ceremonies took place at the Fisheries Commission Conference Room, marking the operationalization of co-management provisions in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146). Professor Wisdom Akpalu, Chairman of the Governing Board, emphasized the crucial role of the committees in ensuring science-based and evidence-informed fisheries management, urging members to critically assess recommendations.

The STC, chaired by Dr. Angela Lamptey, now includes inland fisheries and aquaculture in its mandate. The FMOC, led by Mr. Daniel Owusu, focuses on translating scientific advice into coordinated operational actions, including the development of annual implementation plans and coordination among stakeholders. GFRA, a non-governmental organization focused on sustainable development and community resilience, played a key role in supporting the inauguration, working in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Foundation and Hen Mpoano under the Inshore Exclusion Zone Enforcement and Transparency (IEZET) Project.