Nigeria and Ghana Wednesday resolved to strengthen bilateral cooperation on fisheries governance, sustainable fisheries management and the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The decision was made when the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, visited Ghana where he met with the Ghanaian Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Emelia Arthur, in Accra.
The visit also provided an opportunity for Oyetola, who is the President of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), to engage with the FCWC Secretariat and the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre in Tema, Ghana, as part of efforts to advance regional cooperation during Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Committee.
During the meeting with his Ghanaian counterpart, Oyetola emphasised the need for stronger coordination between Nigeria and Ghana in tackling IUU fishing, describing the menace as a shared concern with serious implications for food security, government revenue and the livelihoods of fishing communities.
The minister, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Bolaji Akinola, noted that effective cooperation between the two countries would strengthen the wider regional response to illegal fishing and contribute to the sustainable management of shared fisheries resources.
He highlighted Nigeria’s pilot implementation of the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels as a practical platform for enhanced cooperation with Ghana, particularly in verifying vessel authorisations and exchanging relevant information through the FCWC framework.
Oyetola noted: “Technical teams from both countries could work together to identify discrepancies in vessel authorisation records and establish agreed procedures for resolving them, thereby improving transparency, compliance and fisheries monitoring across the subregion.
“Our shared interest is to protect fisheries resources, expand sustainable production and strengthen the livelihoods of our people. Nigeria remains committed to working with Ghana towards these objectives.”
As part of his engagements in Ghana, Oyetola also visited the FCWC Secretariat in Tema, where he met with the Secretary-General, Dr. Antoine Djihinto, and other staff members of the Secretariat.
The minister commended the Secretariat for the achievements recorded over the past year and reiterated his commitment to working closely with other FCWC Member States to strengthen regional fisheries governance and eliminate IUU fishing in the West Central Gulf of Guinea.
He stressed the importance of sustained collaboration among member countries, noting that coordinated monitoring, control and surveillance, improved information-sharing and effective implementation of regional initiatives are essential to protecting fisheries resources and ensuring their long-term sustainability.
The FCWC brings together six member countries: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo.
The Committee provides a framework for regional cooperation in fisheries management, maritime security and the promotion of sustainable fisheries practices across the West Central Gulf of Guinea.
Oyetola’s engagements in Ghana reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening regional partnerships, strengthening fisheries monitoring and enforcement, and advancing a sustainable Marine and Blue Economy that supports food security, economic growth and the livelihoods of coastal communities across the subregion.
In her remarks,Arthur commended Nigeria for its efforts in combating piracy and for the significant strides recorded in the Marine and Blue Economy sector.
She reaffirmed that the fight against IUU fishing remains a priority for Ghana and pledged her country’s full cooperation with Nigeria in addressing the challenge.
The Ghanaian minister also disclosed that Ghana had developed its own Marine and Blue Economy policy and sought Nigeria’s support in sharing knowledge and experience, noting Nigeria’s pioneering position in developing such a policy framework.
The request underscores the importance of knowledge-sharing and policy collaboration between both countries as they pursue sustainable ocean governance, improved fisheries management and the development of their respective blue economy sectors.