Organised by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Ghana Chamber of Aquaculture and the UK High Commission in Ghana, the festival served as the culmination of a workshop dubbed “One Health Aquaculture Ghana,” aimed at promoting safe and sustainable seafood production by adopting a holistic approach that considers human, animal and environmental health.

The festival provided a platform for industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, producers and consumers to come together and discuss strategies for sustainable aquaculture.

It was a night filled with excitement and anticipation as attendees awaited the unveiling of the festival's star attraction, Proper One, a premium blue food product from Ghana's largest tilapia producer in West Africa, Tropo Farms.

Guests were treated to a gastronomic journey, sampling 14 fish products prepared exclusively with pomp from Ghana's aquaculture industry.

The event showcased the creativity and culinary prowess of the Ghana Chef Association, with each dish highlighting the versatility and richness of locally farmed fish.

As attendees savoured each culinary creation, they were reminded of the importance of supporting the aquaculture industry by patronising locally farmed fish. 

Importance of fish

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, emphasised the importance of sustainable aquaculture in ensuring both food security and environmental preservation.

She expressed pride in the UK's commitment to the Blue Food Partnership, highlighting the establishment of a £500 million global fund in 2021.

“This fund demonstrates the UK's dedication to supporting key partners in protecting marine environments and alleviating poverty,” she said.

With nearly three million people depending on fishing for their livelihoods, she said "fishing is not just an occupation; it is a way of life for millions of Ghanaians”.

She, however, said the fisheries industry was facing challenges, including climate change, overfishing and illegal exploitation of Ghana's fisheries resources.

Locally farmed fish

The Chief Executive of the Aquaculture Chamber Ghana, Jacob Adzikah, advocated value addition to locally farmed fish and the need to promote awareness of fish catch originating from Ghana.

Encouraging the public to choose locally farmed fish, he underlined the importance of supporting the thriving aquaculture sector.

He highlighted the significant contributions of Ghana's leading tilapia producer, which had propelled the country's aquaculture industry to new heights.

"With over 30,500 metric tonnes of premium press tilapia produced last year by Turbo Farms, the leading producer,” he said Ghana was poised to become a key exporter of blue food within the sub-region.

The Overall Lead of the Blue Food Partnership of the World Economic Forum, Karen Demavivas, highlighted the UK government's new climate fund and the pivotal role played by the Blue Food Partnership launched over two years ago.

She said the partnership aimed to catalyse science-based actions with a focus on healthy and sustainable practices within the aquaculture value chain. 

She emphasised the importance of a multi-stakeholder platform approach that would showcase the success of building a robust membership platform within record time.