02/07/2021

ACCRA, ABUJA - The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Ghana, Mrs Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, lost her seat in the December 2020 polls and has been replaced as minister after a journalistic investigation. Also, the European Commission has issued a warning (so-called yellow card) to the Republic of Ghana that it risks being identified as a non-cooperating country in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Commission's decision is based on various shortcomings in Ghana's ability to comply with its duties under international law as flag, port, coastal or market State.

In 2020 a Journalismfund supported investigation by Gideon Sarpong and Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi revealed the negative impact of illegal industrial fishing on the marine ecosystem and biodiversity in Ghana and Nigeria and the significant economic toll on artisanal fishers. This cross-border story has already highlighted how current laws in both countries had been rendered ineffective through years of non-enforcement serving as a boost to illegal, unreported and unregulated IUU fishing.

Currently Ghana is encouraged to take the necessary actions in order to abide by its international obligations in the fight against IUU fishing.

Read the full story here.

Yellow card for Ghana from the European Commission and a Ghanaian minister replaced due to a journalistic investigation (2021)