The event occurred on Tuesday 19th November 2024, at Aboadze Tico School Park. The theme of the 2024 World Fishery Day was “Upholding SSF Guidelines: Investing in Social Protection for equitable development in the fishery sector”. The following dignitaries were present at the durbar. Nana Kwamina Wienu II, the Acting President of Shama Traditional Council was the Chairperson of the occasion.

Hon Kobby Okyere Darko Mensah, the Western Regional Minister served as the Guest of Honor. The Special Guests were the District Chief Executive of Shama, Hon. Ebenezer Dadzie, the Harbour Manager of Albert Bosomtwe Fishing Harbour, Mr Henry Papa Oppong, the Deputy Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, Mad. Matilda Ajakameh, and Hon Emelia Arthur, Parliamentary Candidate for Shama.

Representatives of supporting NGOs and organizations Mundus maris, CEMLAWS Africa, Friends of the Nation, HELP Foundation Africa, Volta River Authority and NAFTA, The Chiefs and Chief Fishermen of Shama Traditional Area, National and Regional Executives and members of CaFGOAG, members of the Western Region, Western Regional Coordinating Council, and Energy Companies within Shama District and beyond graced the occasion. Shama District Police Command provided security at the event.

The event began at 11: 00 am. The durbar was in three sections: the opening, panel discussions, and presentations. Discussions revolved around the theme “SSF Guidelines: Investing in Social Protection for equitable development in the fishery sector” during the panel discussions and the statements from the representative organizations. Supporting organizations and ministries made presentations on their contributions to the fishery sector.

Yaa Oguabi Osei-Mensah, the representative of Mundus maris, gave a speech during the durbar on behalf of Dr Cornelia Nauen. Mundus maris supports artisanal fishers in their efforts towards safeguarding their livelihoods by caring for a healthy marine and coastal environment and its resources as they work hard for landing and marketing quality fish the people in Ghana and other places like to eat. Mundus maris is happy to have collaborated with the Ghana Canoe and Fishing Gear Owner Association to make explanatory videos of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries and on gender equity and equality in Fante language accessible so that more fisherfolks (men and women) in small-scale fisheries in Ghana know about their rights.

One video is about the voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, adopted by government officials at the FAO Committee of Fisheries in 2014. The other video explains the importance of gender equity and equality. That is particularly important to recognize because women make major contributions to the value chain and sustain their families. We hope that being more aware of these rights and working together to help make the point for prioritizing low-impact fishing and access of women to fish, credit and social services will strengthen small-scale fisheries overall in the country. We are happy to be celebrating World Fisheries Day together this year.

Hon Kobby Okyere Darko Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, the District Chief Executive of Shama, Hon. Ebenezer Dadzie, and Yaa Oguabi Osei-Mensah from Mundus maris launched the videos. They were attentively watched by the numerous participants. The event ended at 2:30 pm. Yaa’s slides are here.