Ghana’s progress towards greater transparency in the fisheries sector could be slowed by inadequate funding, even as the country earns international recognition for meeting the requirements to become a Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) Implementing Country.
The FiTI International Board has officially designated Ghana as an Implementing Country, recognising the country’s efforts to improve access to fisheries information, strengthen stakeholder participation and promote accountability in the management of marine resources.
However, stakeholders have warned that sustaining the reforms will require adequate financial and technical resources to support data collection, reporting, public engagement and other activities required under the FiTI Standard.
Dr Godfred Ameyaw Asiedu, FiTI Regional Coordinator for Anglophone Africa, identified funding as one of the major challenges confronting Ghana’s efforts to deepen transparency and accountability in the fisheries sector.
He said limited financial resources had affected the pace and scope of activities undertaken by the initiative.
“We could have done more if we had adequate funding,” he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
The funding concern comes at a time when Ghana has made significant progress in addressing gaps identified in an earlier assessment of transparency in the fisheries sector.
FiTI, a global multi-stakeholder partnership, promotes transparency and participation in marine fisheries governance by encouraging countries to make relevant fisheries information accessible to citizens, businesses and civil society organisations.
The FiTI International Board said Ghana’s application for Implementing Country status fully met the requirements under Section C of the FiTI Standard.
It also commended Ghana for completing the application process within the agreed timelines and described the process as professional, participatory and inclusive.
A major development highlighted by the Board was the establishment of a Fisheries Information System (FIS), which has been integrated into the website of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The system is expected to improve public access to information on the fisheries sector and support more informed participation in decisions concerning the management of marine resources.
The development follows a FiTI “Taking Stock” transparency assessment conducted in Ghana three years ago, which found that although some fisheries information was publicly available, significant amounts of data required for transparent and inclusive governance remained inaccessible.
The establishment of the Fisheries Information System is therefore being viewed as an important response to the identified gaps and an indication of Ghana’s commitment to improving openness within the sector.
The designation as an Implementing Country now provides Ghana with a framework to further strengthen transparency and inclusive governance while aligning its fisheries management practices with international standards.
However, the FiTI International Board cautioned that maintaining implementation of the standard would require sustained financial and technical support.
Stakeholders are consequently calling for greater investment to ensure that the reforms do not lose momentum, particularly in areas such as data collection, information disclosure, reporting and engagement with fishing communities, industry players and civil society.
The achievement has been described as a significant milestone for Ghana’s fisheries governance, but stakeholders believe the next phase will be critical in determining whether the country can translate its new status into lasting improvements in transparency, accountability and sustainable management of its marine resources.
