Provide tilapia boost plan -GAWU

Members of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) have called on government to disclose how it intends to increase tilapia production locally following its announcement of a ban on the importation of the fish.

The Ministry of Fisheries & Aquaculture lately announced the ban on the importation of tilapia to help create a market for the local fish industry.

GAWU, in a statement, commended government for the bold initiative, adding that it would help to lessen the $2 billion used annually to import fish into the country according to a 2012 report by the Ministry.

Annual demand for fish currently stands at 880,000 tonnes, but only 42,000 tonnes is produced locally. GAWU argued that the directive should be backed by a concrete plan.

Edward Kareweh, Deputy General Secretary of GAWU, disclosed that Ghana should not ban tilapia importation without any results-oriented alternative arrangement to meet the consumer’s needs, as well as fill the gaps that would arise by the directive.

Mr Kareweh called for further explanation on the government’s directive since not all Ghanaians were likely to back it.

Furthermore, he questioned the period of time the directive would be enforced.

Sherry Ayitey, the Minister of Fisheries & Aquaculture, recently disclosed to the media in Tema that the ban could create about 50,000 jobs in the aquaculture sector.

The Minister added that portions of the Volta Lake would be earmarked for all-year round aquaculture.