The National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to permanently cancel the offshore reconnaissance licence granted to Gold Coast GRC Ghana Limited for gold exploration on Ghana’s shallow continental shelf.
It said the proposed offshore mining activities could threaten marine ecosystems, destroy fish habitats and undermine the livelihoods of fishing communities along the coast.
Nana Jojo Solomon, President of NAFAG, made the call at a press conference, on Friday, in Accra.
He said the cancellation of the licence would address growing agitation within the fisheries sector and protect the country’s fisheries resources, which were critical to food security and the national economy.
Mr Solomon said the association appreciated the President’s prompt response to its earlier request for the suspension of the licence, as well as his recognition of concerns about protecting marine resources and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
He said NAFAG was hopeful that the President would exercise his discretion to ensure the total termination of the licence at the earliest opportunity.
“We have a very good working relationship with the President. We have issues with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Minerals Commission, but we do not have an issue with the President,” he said.
Mr Solomon expressed concern that fish in the ocean had already been found to contain heavy metals, which he attributed to mining activities upstream, warning that introducing mining activities into the sea could worsen the situation.
He questioned the decision to issue the reconnaissance licence, citing Section 99(6) of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), which he said prohibited the activity.
He called on the Minerals Commission and the EPA to explain their roles in the process, insisting that the proposed activity raised serious regulatory and environmental concerns.
The NAFAG President said the association was also worried about the destruction of coral reefs, fish habitats and spawning grounds in countries where seabed mining had been permitted.
He warned that such destruction could lead to the collapse of fisheries and deprive fishing communities of their main source of livelihood.
Mr Solomon said fishermen across the four coastal regions, Western, Central, Greater Accra and Volta, were united in opposing the proposed offshore mining.
He said the association was prepared to defend the livelihoods of its members but preferred to resolve the matter through dialogue with the Presidency and the sector ministry.
“We believe that the President will do due diligence. We do not want to muddy the waters,” he said.
He added that the sector minister had also discussed the matter at Cabinet level, expressing hope that the concerns raised would lead to a definitive decision on the licence.
NAFAG reaffirmed its commitment to supporting efforts to sustainably manage the country’s fisheries resources and improve the livelihoods of people across the fisheries value chain.
Mr Solomon said the association expected a favourable response from the President to its request for the total cancellation of the licence in the interest of the country.
He stressed that protecting the marine environment was essential to sustaining fishing activities, ensuring access to fish as a source of nutrition and safeguarding the economic well-being of coastal communities.
