The Fisheries Commission on 14th August 2025, organized a stakeholder engagement on sustainable fishing at Kpong. The engagement brought together some institutions such as Ghana Health Service, National Disaster Management Organization, Police Service, Military, Agric Directorate, Opinion Leaders and Ghana Water Company to sensitize fishermen on how to practice sustainable fishing and prevent child labor.
Speaking on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Selorm Tibu the Municipal Coordinating Director stated that fishing and aquaculture is a vital source of income for many within the Kpong community. However, it has faced a challenge of bad fishing practices and unethical involvement of child labor hence it is prudent to highlight the sustainable fishing practices and the prevention of child labor to ensure that the people enjoy the natural resources provided to them while sustaining it for future generations.
Mr Patrick Apenteng Head of Fisheries Commission Akosombo, in his delivery indicated that, the Fisheries Commission has a mandate to ensure a long term conservation of aquaculture and water bodies, and this is done through preparing comprehensive plans for conservation, monitoring of fishing activities and addressing complaints from stakeholders.
He said the Commission has a responsibility to educate all fishermen who practiced bad fishing methods such as use of light, use of chemicals and the use of dynamites. Mr. Apenteng said these unapproved method of fishing are harmful and prohibited because the use of light can disrupt the natural behavior and habitat for fishes, whiles the use of chemicals for fishing contaminate water bodies and is harmful for human and aquatic life. The use of dynamites is destructive and can devastate the entire ecosystem for fishes Mr. Apenteng said.
The Public Relation officer for Volta River Authority (VRA) has expressed concerns about debris in the river, which affects their operations and aquatic ecosystems. He said, the people in the Kpong community must adopt responsible waste management practices and avoid the use of the river as refuse dumps.
The Municipal Coordinating Director in his closing remarks stated that sustainable fishing and prevention of child labor are interlinked goals that require concerted effort from all stakeholders. He added that responsible fishing practices will sustain our water bodies for future generations, while educating our children will make them responsible and great scholars in future. Mr Selorm said, it is our collective responsibility to preserve these resources, recognizing the intrinsic value they hold for our well-being.
Abraham Tettey Wayo
MIO
Lower Manya Krobo.
