Ghana faces a potential ban on fish exports to the European Union if urgent steps are not taken to sanitise the country’s fishing industry.
The warning was issued by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Aquaculture and Cocoa Affairs, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, during a stakeholder meeting in Accra on Friday.
The meeting focused on finalising a draft Fisheries Bill aimed at addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Ghana has already received two “yellow card” warnings from the EU – in 2013 and again in 2021 – due to persistent IUU fishing practices.
A failure to meet EU standards by 2026 could result in a “red card,” effectively banning fish exports to the EU market.
Dr. Jasaw stressed the importance of enacting strong legislation to ensure compliance with international standards.
In her remarks, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, warned that a ban could have devastating consequences for both the economy and communities as more than three million Ghanaians rely on the fisheries value chain for their livelihoods.
