Accra: The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), and the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CAFGOAG), have called for an effective system for reporting all incidents at sea through a collaborative mechanism between fishers and authorities. The group has explained that many incidents happen at sea, but due to inadequate reporting mechanisms in place, such incidents are not taken up for appropriate redress or action.
According to Ghana News Agency, Nana Jojo Solomon, President of GNCFC, read a communique on behalf of the group at the end of a two-day capacity building workshop on the International Labour Organisation’s Work in Fishing Convention (C.188). He called for targeted awareness-creation efforts to educate Ghanaian fishers and canoe owners on their role in ensuring safety and decency in the small-scale fishing sector. The workshop, organised by Friends of the Nation and ProSea Marine Education, with support from the International Fund for Fishing Safety in Accra, brought together relevant stakeholders in the fisheries sector.
The initiative sensitised stakeholders on the provisions in the C.188 that are crucial for ensuring decent working conditions for small-scale fishers in Ghana. These provisions include written work agreements, care after injury, medical advice and treatment ashore, safely manned canoes, sufficient rest for fishers, training programmes, incident reporting, risk evaluation, and hazard prevention. Nana Solomon emphasised that the platform would facilitate dialogue on the importance of C.188 and identify best practices for its effective implementation, ultimately ensuring the safety of fishers and the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s fisheries resources.
The communique called for improving the working conditions of fishers and implementing social security mechanisms to make the sector an appealing career choice for the next generation. It highlighted the importance of the C.188 provisions for the safety and well-being of fishers and urged authorities to take steps towards its effective implementation. It suggested a gradual approach to applying the Convention to the small-scale sector, with effective stakeholder conversations and recognition of existing arrangements within the operations of small-scale fishing in Ghana.
Earlier at the workshop, Ms Anita Boateng Ameyaw, Project Coordinator of Friends of the Nation, stated that the event aimed to empower fishers to take charge of their security and safety on and off shore. She noted that the project’s main aim is to empower small-scale fishers to prioritise their safety and well-being at sea through education and sensitisation on the ILO C.188, stressing that the current state of working conditions for artisanal fishers requires critical attention from all relevant stakeholders due to the numerous risks they face at sea.
