Despite a recent change of government in the West African country of Ghana, Norway has reiterated its ongoing commitment to supporting Ghana’s marine fisheries and aquaculture growth strategy.
Since 2019, the Norwegian government has offered support to the Ghanaian Fisheries Commission, which implements policies and regulations developed by the country’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) to address unsustainable fishing and farming practices both in the country’s marine fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Norway has specifically worked with the Fisheries Commission to enforce measures that ensure recordkeeping of reliable data and adherence to fish stock assessments when making decisions on fish catch limits.
The Scandinavian nation has also made long-term investments in private Ghanaian fish-farming ventures. For instance, in 2022, Norwegian government-owned finance development organization Norfund invested USD 20 million (EUR 18.6 million) of equity in U.K. social impact investment firm AgDevCo, which specializes in developing African agribusinesses.
In 2024, AgDevCo extended USD 10 million (EUR 9.3 million) in financing to Tropo Farms, one of Africa’s leading aquaculture companies, for the construction of a modern processing facility and other production equipment.
Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana Ingrid Mollestad recently told new Ghanaian Fisheries Minister Emelia Arthur that Norway will continue to support fisheries and aquaculture job creation, help to increase earnings for stakeholders along the country’s seafood value chain, and enhance food and nutritional security.
The discussions with Norway follow talks Arthur held with Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana Imane Ouaadil on how the two African nations can deepen cooperation in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, especially on the expansion of fish farming and fish culture opportunities.
“We explored opportunities for job creation, economic development, and sustainable growth, marking another step in deepening Ghana-Morocco ties in agriculture and fisheries,” Arthur said on X.
“I am confident we can work together to explore the vast potential of cooperation between Morocco and Ghana,” Morocco’s ambassador to Ghana Imane Ouaadil said when meeting minister Arthur.
The commitments to collaboration and financial backing Ghana has secured took place while the administration of U.S. Donald Trump has set plans in motion to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), attempting to freeze key funding for programs around the world aimed at global economic growth, democratic reform, and reducing poverty, including several programs in Africa.