British NGO Supports Aquaculture in Ghana

Dunkwa (Central Region) 12 Oct 1998 A British non-governmental organisation, Fishmongers Company of UK, has voted 4,650 Pounds Sterling to support aquaculture development in the Upper Denkyira district of the Central region.

Of this amount, 2,850 Pounds went to the fisheries directorate and fish farmers as grants to procure pumping machines.

The remaining 1,800 Pounds is meant to help in the construction of a hatchery to supply fingerlings to the farmers.

The government of Ghana has also voted ten million cedis while the farmers contributed 1.8 million cedis to acquire land for the hatchery project, offices and other fishing activities.

Dr A. H. K. Kwansah-Filson, Upper Denkyira District Director of Food and Agriculture, announced this at a meeting with officials from the World Bank and government representatives at Dunkwa-On- Offin last Thursday.

The meeting formed part of a mid-term review of the Fisheries Sub-Sector Capacity Building Project (FSCBP), government of Ghana and World Bank initiative to revive the fishing industry.

Dr Kwansah-Filson said the district has the potential for fish, rice and maize production and called for the harnessing of the potential for the benefit of the country.

Mrs Sarah Kuntu-Attah, District Chief Executive for the area, said the promotion of aquaculture would help solve problems of malnutrition in the rural areas and pledged her support for the growth of fish farming in the district.

Mr Charles Annor-Frempong, World Bank representative and Task Manager of the FSCBP, expressed his gratitude to the fish farmers for their hard work and assured them of assistance.

He appealed to district assemblies to release funds as part of the poverty alleviation programmes to assist farmers at the initial stages of their farming activities. GRi