Fisheries minister calls for private sector partnership to revive national aquaculture centre

Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, has called on private investors to partner government in managing the Ghana National Aquaculture Centre at Amrahia in the Greater Accra Region. Speaking at the launch of the 3rd edition of Aquaculture Ghana 2025 organised by the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana at the World Trade Centre in Accra, the Minister said the move is part of efforts to boost fish production and promote sustainable aquaculture practices across the country. “For us, we want to secure public-private partnerships. All of you here in the aquaculture space are private actors. Even if you are a small-scale farmer, it’s your business. Government has this facility—the Ghana National Aquaculture Centre at Amanya—and we’re seeking a private partner to come and run it,” Emelia Arthur stated. She explained that the facility has significant potential to serve as a national hub for aquaculture training, research, and production, but requires efficient management to operate at full capacity. “The production capacity of this place is huge. They have training facilities, fantastic infrastructure—amazing. This is going to be a great move if we manage it well,” she added, noting that government will continue to play its regulatory and oversight role while providing technical support through the Fisheries Commission. The call for collaboration aligns with the ministry’s broader agenda to attract private investment and innovation into Ghana’s aquaculture sector, which has been identified as a key driver of food security, job creation, and export growth. The Aquaculture Ghana 2025 event, now in its third edition, brings together stakeholders from government, academia, and the private sector to discuss sustainable growth and investment opportunities in the country’s aquaculture industry.