Accra: Hen Mpoano, an NGO specializing in coastal and marine ecosystem governance, has unveiled two initiatives aimed at revitalizing Ghana's fisheries and promoting gender-equitable marine conservation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the first initiative, titled 'With Fishers, For Fishers: Sustaining Ghana's Fisheries Recovery,' is funded by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. It aims to bolster fisheries co-management systems, replenish dwindling fish stocks, and improve community resilience across 21 coastal communities in the Western and Central Regions.
The second project, 'Gender-Responsive Conservation: Integrating GBV Considerations into the Proposed Marine Protected Area of the Greater Cape Three Points Area,' is planned for implementation from 2025 to 2027. This project, in collaboration with The Ark Foundation and CEWEFIA and funded by the Norwegian Government, seeks to ensure that Ghana's first Marine Protected Area initiative is both sustainable and inclusive of gender considerations.
Mr. Kofi Agbogah, Director of Hen Mpoano, emphasized that these projects aim to deepen engagements between fishers and state actors, ensuring their active participation in decision-making processes within the fisheries sector. He highlighted that the initiatives reaffirm the organization's commitment to linking conservation and fisheries recovery with gender equality, social protection, and community empowerment.
Mrs. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, praised Hen Mpoano's ongoing efforts to foster sustainability and empowerment within the country's fisheries sector. She noted that the projects align with the government's national objectives of ensuring inclusive, equitable, and sustainable growth across various sectors, including agriculture and fisheries.
The Minister reiterated the ministry's commitment to strengthening partnerships with Civil Society Organisations to reshape the fisheries sector. She emphasized the importance of community-driven, inclusive, and gender-responsive transformation.
Mr. John Mikal Kvistad, Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana, expressed that Norway's involvement reflects a longstanding belief in the interconnection between sustainable ocean management and gender equality. He stressed the necessity of communities where both women and men can participate equally, free from violence and discrimination, to maintain healthy oceans.
