Ghana – Impacts Through Local Codes of Practice

Africa is on the brink of a demographic transformation. According to the FAO, the continent’s population will grow by one billion people by 2050, making it home to one quarter of the world’s population. As this rapid expansion drives demand for food and livelihoods, aquaculture is emerging as one of the most promising sectors for inclusive growth.

In Ghana, where tilapia farming has become a vital part of the national diet and rural economy, the question is no longer whether aquaculture will grow, but how it can grow responsibly.

A Project in Its Conception

W are now developing the groundwork for what could become Ghana’s code for Better Practices of this Sort. The effort is being designed in close collaboration with the Ghana Chamber of Aquaculture (COA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.

At this stage, the project is still in its conceptual phase, focusing on stakeholder mapping, defining the governance structure, understanding the market and supply chain, and identifying the environmental and social indicators that would form a future Code.

As Manager, my role is to help develop the frameworks that make collaboration possible, working with government, producers, and research partners to define shared goals, align verification systems, and build trust. That means negotiating among different interests, identifying practical solutions, and determining how data will be collected and used, not only to demonstrate impact to markets, but to provide direct value to farmers themselves.

This early collaboration also opens a space for South–South exchange, linking experiences from Asia with Africa’s emerging aquaculture landscapes. Building bridges for knowledge transfer.

Reflection: Beginning With a Vision

There is no blueprint yet, only commitment: from government, from producers, and from partners who see the potential for a more coordinated, transparent, and resilient aquaculture sector. For me, being part of this inception stage is a reminder that system change doesn’t begin with outcomes, it begins with conversations, trust, and a shared willingness to imagine how to change the game.