Sixty young entrepreneurs have begun an eight-week intensive training programme in fish value addition in Accra, aimed at promoting agribusiness development, reducing post-harvest losses, and creating employment opportunities in Ghana’s fisheries sector.
The programme is being organised under the ECOWAS Youth Employment Initiative in partnership with the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, and hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Food Research Institute.
Participants will receive hands-on training in processing a variety of value-added fish products, including smoked tilapia and catfish, fish sausage, fillets, fish chips, minced fish, spicy fish chunks, koobi in oil, and fish powder. The training also covers the extraction of fish gut oil and other innovative fish-based products.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Amy Atter, Local Training Coordinator, said the programme sought to bridge the gap between raw fish production and profitable agribusiness ventures. She noted that participants would also be trained in business management areas such as packaging and branding, record keeping, costing, marketing strategies, and compliance with certification requirements from the Food and Drugs Authority.
By the end of the programme, each participant is expected to gain at least ten product development skills and develop practical business plans to establish or expand fish processing enterprises.
Edward H. Decker, National Training Coordinator, said the initiative also incorporates mentorship, gender inclusion strategies, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure measurable outcomes. He explained that the programme forms part of broader efforts by the Economic Community of West African States to empower youth through agribusiness and value-chain development.
Expected outcomes include the training of at least 60 individuals in agricultural value chains, the preparation of about 90 business plans, and the creation of a network of young agribusiness entrepreneurs to boost innovation and productivity in the sector.
In remarks delivered on his behalf, Professor Charles Tortoe, Director of the Food Research Institute, highlighted the importance of proper handling and processing of fish to ensure food safety. He described the training as a valuable empowerment initiative that would improve incomes while supporting innovation in Ghana’s fisheries sector.
