Ghana – Impacts Through Local Codes of Practice
In Ghana, my work focuses on creating models for how aquaculture improvements can be scaled beyond individual farms. Ghana is one of the fastest-growing aquaculture producers in Africa and the third largest on the continent. Its dynamic private sector, growing population, and stable democracy make it a fertile ground to test new models for sustainable food systems.
Yet, the sector also faces challenges — from fish health and feed sustainability to environmental management and food safety. Certification alone was not a full solution. Most fish produced in Ghana are sold locally, and many small and medium farms operate outside the scope of export-oriented standards. What was needed was a nationally relevant framework that could both drive improvements across the industry and prepare producers for future global opportunities.
That’s how the Code of Good Practice (CoGP) for aquaculture emerged — a country-wide initiative developed with the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, in dialogue with government agencies, development partners, and local producers. The CoGP builds upon international standards but translates them into Ghana’s context, making them practical, measurable, and achievable for the country’s producers. It’s designed not just as a technical guide, but as a policy and coordination tool — one that can strengthen national food safety systems, attract investment, and position Ghana as a trusted and responsible aquaculture nation.
My role in this process combines both the technical and strategic dimensions: contributing to the structure and content of the CoGP, aligning it with global sustainability benchmarks, and facilitating collaboration between a diverse network of actors — from chambers and producer associations to international NGOs and donors. The work also draws heavily on lessons from other commodity sectors such as coffee, cocoa, and palm oil, where national codes and frameworks have proven essential to scaling sustainability across entire industries.
The Ghana project represents what I believe to be the next generation of improvement programmes — moving from farm-by-farm interventions to systemic, nationally embedded solutions. By grounding sustainability in national policies and local ownership, while connecting it to international best practices, we are helping design an approach that benefits farmers, consumers, and ecosystems alike.
Ultimately, the work in Ghana is not only about improving aquaculture practices — it’s about demonstrating how countries can shape their own sustainability pathways, aligning local priorities with global goals, and building the foundations for a resilient and inclusive blue economy.
