Ghana: Fish for development project (FIDEP) launched

EU Fish for development Project (FIDEP)

The fish for Development Project (FIDEP) is a forty (40) - month local economic development aimed at promoting sustainable economic growth and development through fish farming. This is district/municipal specific and in this case, Adentan municipality is the focus.

Adentan municipality was established over ten (10) years ago and lies in the north eastern part of Accra and connects to the Eastern and Oti regions of Ghana. Adentan is blessed with some natural water bodies which makes her a perfect choice for this project.

In an interview with Mr Kodwo Ennin Fynn, the Project Coordinator, he summarized the project’s objectives as follows: “The project seek to promote urban fish farming as a means of livelihood within the municipality, creating jobs for youths, women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) along the fish value chain and preserving and protecting the water bodies within the municipality.”

FIDEP is co-funded by the European Union (EU) who is providing 80% of the total cost of the project and the remaining 20% will be taken care of by the implementing partners. The implementers as communicated is led by the Adentan Municipal Assembly and being supported by the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) and the Local Governance Network (LoGNet) and ofcourse in partnership with local and national stakeholders. To enhance the capabilities of the beneficiaries, the project will provide the needed infrastructure and training along the entire value chain to promote the fish industry.

The following were outlined as the targets for the project:

l Employment for 1,200 youths, 600 women, 60 PWDs and 360 men along the fish value chain within the focused municipality.

l Construction of a demonstration centre, fish cages, fish hatchery and a cottage-based processing centre.

l Twenty-two (22) identified and mapped water bodies protected and preserved within the Adentan Municipality.

l Expected annual farmer income of GHS 12,000 by 2022.

In his concluding words, Mr Fynn declares the open for application and entreat all to take advantage of the project. He define the ‘all’ as youth groups, women groups particularly market women and persons with disabilities, existing fish farmers, cold stores and fish mongers, transporters/transport operators, buyers/exporters and many more.

The success of FIDEP will be assessed on five pillars;

i. Support to farmers

ii. Construction of cottage-based processing centre

iii. Planting of trees around the water bodies

iv. Skills training for farmers on production of fingerlings, emerging technologies, record keeping , pre & post harvest management and value addition techniques

v. Formulation and enforcement of by-law

WOMEN: Role-players in artisanal fisheries

Women waiting patiently at the shore for the catch

I love fish ... Do you? Am moved to share with you an interesting role played by women in the artisanal fisheries sector in Ghana, West Africa, Africa and the world as a whole. Well motivated after REJOPRAO's (Network of Journalists for Responsible and Sustainable Fisheries in West Africa) General Assembly and their participation in CAOPA's (African Confederation of Professional Artisanal Fishing Organisations) seminar both organised in Saly-Portudal, Senegal - not a day passes without talking about women in this sector. 

Women in the thick of affairs; Offloading catch from canoes

Admittedly, this area of agriculture is very technical making it very difficult for some well acclaimed journalists to report and educate the general public. The problems and constraints in the sector has also been overlooked. As a devout member of this network (REJOPRAO), I cannot hold anything back. I am through this piece asking that the most active and vibrant members of the artisanal fisheries value chain are applauded and hailed - Our WOMEN. The pictures says it all.

Women: valuation, pricing and purchasing time

The Women really deserve to be celebrated (The World Women's Day). Guinea Bissau the venue for this year's celebration is christened; ''Equity for women is progress for all''. Personally this theme is fitting and very thought provoking. Considering this sector, I would like to discuss only one of the many challenges - financing. There are many financial institutions operating in various countries but how will you rate their support to the women in this area? Equity does not seem to exist in their dictionary. Financial facility are extended to more men than women. They are sidelined because of their inability to provide collaterals. These are very important variable in the value chain. 

Preparing the fish for processing

During the seminar, presentations from WARI and Bank of Africa (BoA) sounded so promising. BoA, Senegal has a fund already signed to support women co-operatives in Senegal we look forward that other financial institutions will emulate this and extend to our women the necessary support so their livelihoods and that of their families are improved. WARI can also make the transaction of their businesses very simple and smooth. 

Woman happily smoking fish

Marketing of the processed fish

Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, daughters... we love you all and cherish your contribution.

By Nana Darko, Ghana