WIMA, Fisheries Ministry reach out to Akwamuman to empower women towards economic dev't

The Ghana Chapter of the Women in Maritime Africa in collaboration with the Ministries of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Gender and Children and Transport, have embarked on an outreach program at Akwamufie in the Asuogyaman District in Ghana with focus on improving the lives of women and maximizing the wide range of benefits the Volta Lake presents to the area.

The outreach program which is part of the celebration of the World Oceans Day was merged with the 55th anniversary of the Queen mother of Akwamufie, Nana Afrakuma II.

WIMA Ghana said, combining the two is to demonstrate their commitment to empowering women in the Volta Lake area.

"Our aim is to empower women and encourage them to enter into the maritime industry because the maritime industry is dominated by men. And also our mother is celebrating her 55years, we, as a women's association, want to project her to the continent," President of WIMA, Captain Hannah Aggrey said.

Captain Hannah Captain Hannah Aggrey, a Ghanaian pioneering seafarer and captain, who is the President of WIMA, emphasized that the Volta Lake is a contributing factor to the maritime industry as it sources into the ocean.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries, and Aquaculture development, Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe, who was present at the occasion, highlighted government’s initiatives to sustain the country’s fish stock and admonished the traditional authorities of Akwamuman, to regulate fishing behavior which would go a long way to conserve one of Ghana’s key water resources, thus the Volta Lake.

"In 2019, we have been able to implement close season and it is a very good development because we have experienced a declining fish stock over the last period. Akosombo provides fish, tourism, and others and we need to do everything to conserve this resource and in doing so, I appeal to everyone here in Akwamuman to set up rules and policies to ensure that people don't encroach our river systems," he said.

The Women in Maritime Africa Ghana Chapter donated among others, life jackets for the constituents of the fishing community.