Kumasi, Ghana – In a bid to ensure fair pricing and profitability for fish farmers, the Fisheries Commission, in collaboration with the Greater Kumasi Fish Farmers Cooperative Union (GKFFCU), has secured a dedicated space at the Kumasi Racecourse market to promote the sale of farmed fish.
The initiative aims to protect fish farmers from unfair pricing and guarantee them the deserved profit for their investment. By establishing a regulated market with standard pricing, farmers can sell their produce at fair rates, preventing losses that often hinder growth in the aquaculture sector.
Mr. Gideon Boakye, Ashanti Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, highlighted the challenges farmers face, particularly low and unfair prices offered by fishmongers. He noted that these unfavorable conditions have led some farmers to abandon aquaculture for more lucrative ventures, thereby reducing fish production in the region.
“Fish farming is a very profitable business. However, fishmongers often purchase farmed fish cheaply from the farmers, leaving them with little or no profit,” Mr. Boakye stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi.
The Ashanti Region recorded a slight increase in fish production in 2024, producing 1,355 metric tons compared to 1,315 metric tons in 2023. However, challenges such as the high cost of fish feed continue to impede large-scale production.
Mr. Boakye expressed optimism that the availability of a structured farmed fish market, overseen by the Fisheries Commission, would attract more investors and consumers, thereby boosting productivity and sustaining protein food supply in the country. The Commission also plans to enforce quality standards to ensure only healthy farmed fish are sold at the market.
Additionally, the formation of GKFFCU seeks to unite fish farmers under a regulatory framework, fostering organization and providing members with benefits such as industry support and resources.
Mr. Boakye called on stakeholders to support the Fisheries Commission and GKFFCU in expanding this initiative by establishing mini farmed fish markets across various districts in the region. This, he said, would help sustain and grow the aquaculture industry while securing better returns for fish farmers.