Ghana Fisheries Minister calls for improved food safety and storage

At the opening of the 2026 Central Regional Fish Fair in Cape Coast, Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, emphasized the need for stronger investments in fish processing and food safety standards. The initiative aims to protect food security, improve public health, and strengthen livelihoods across the fisheries value chain.

Minister Arthur highlighted that reducing post-harvest losses is critical to protecting the economic value of catches. Key priorities include upgrading fish-smoking technologies, improving cold-chain storage, and increasing access to financing, particularly for women who dominate the processing and trading sectors.

The ministry is also working with regulatory bodies, such as the Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standards Authority, to enforce stricter hygiene and sanitation standards at landing beaches and processing sites. Officials encouraged processors to seek food safety certification to access premium markets and build consumer confidence.