Ghana aquaculture: building the foundations for responsible growth
Africa is on the brink of a demographic transformation. As population growth accelerates and demand for affordable protein increases, aquaculture is increasingly recognised as one of the most promising sectors to support food security, livelihoods, and economic development across the continent.
In Ghana, tilapia farming already plays a central role in the national diet and rural economy. The question is no longer whether aquaculture will expand, but how that growth can be guided in a way that is responsible, inclusive, and resilient.
From vision to laying the first stones
Over the past months, work in Ghana has focused on laying the groundwork for a Code of Good Practice for aquaculture, developed in close collaboration with national stakeholders. Rather than starting with certification as an end point, the emphasis has been on defining what responsible aquaculture looks like in the Ghanaian context. In a way that is credible, locally owned, and achievable.
At this stage, the effort remains under development. The focus has been on: Engaging producers, public institutions, and value-chain actors; exploring governance and ownership models that balance local leadership with independent credibility; and identifying environmental, social, and health-related (One Health Approach) practices that could form the backbone of a future Code.
This early work is as much about alignment and trust as it is about technical content. Bringing together diverse perspectives and needs, has helped surface both shared ambitions and real constraints, including informality in markets, data limitations, and, of course, access to finance.
What is emerging
One message has been consistent across conversations: there is a clear appetite for a voluntary, improvement-oriented reference that sits between regulation and full third-party certification.
Such a Code would not replace existing laws, nor would it act as a shortcut to certification. Instead, it could serve as a common language for better practices in the region. Supporting producers in improving step by step, while giving confidence to financiers, insurers, and market actors seeking clearer signals of responsible production.
Importantly, the discussion is not about imposing external models, but about adapting principles of responsible aquaculture to local realities, including how data are collected, how practices are verified, and how incentives can support adoption rather than exclusion.
Reflection
Being involved at this stage is a reminder that system change rarely begins with polished frameworks. It begins with conversations, shared problem-framing, and a willingness to explore.
In Ghana, those foundations are now being laid. The work ahead will be iterative, collaborative, and shaped by what proves workable on the ground. If done well, this process can help create a reference point that supports responsible growth, as well as a model to be replicated across the West Africa.
