Adiembra: Friends of the Nation (FoN), in collaboration with Pro Sea Marine Education, a Dutch NGO, successfully conducted a one-day safety training workshop for small-scale fishers and stakeholders in the fishing industry. This initiative, part of the Marine Safe Net Ghana project, was funded by The International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS) and aimed at enhancing the safety, well-being, and sustainability of small-scale fisheries in Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, the training module is currently being piloted in the Shama, Dixcove, and Axim districts of the Western Region. The workshop adhered to global safety standards, such as those set by the International Labour Organization's work in fishing convention, which aims to protect fishers worldwide.
Mr. Mevuta Donkris, Executive Director of FoN, emphasized during the training at Adiembra that the event marked significant progress in fostering safer and more sustainable small-scale fisheries in Ghana. Participants included representatives from the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), the Canoe Owners and Gear Operators Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG), the National Fish Processors and Traders Association (NAFPTA), and various state agencies.
The training focused on collaboratively reviewing a draft safety training module, stressing that it was developed with fishers, not just for them. Mr. Donkris highlighted the dangers inherent in fishing and cited a report from the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the International Labour Organisation, which noted the loss of 88 fishers at sea daily in 2022.
He underscored the importance of safety, noting that it involves responsibilities beyond rules and equipment. Chief fishermen are expected to lead safe practices, canoe owners must ensure the safety of their vessels and crews, and fishers must take personal responsibility for safe practices at sea.
Nana Jojo Solomon, President of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG), reminded fishers of traditional fishing methods and the necessity of possessing First Aid Boxes, fire extinguishers, and life-saving jackets on canoes. Mr. Kenneth Atta, General Secretary of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana, spoke about the unrecorded accidents and urged fishers to report such incidents.
Mr. Eric Atsiatorme, a Project Officer with FoN, stressed the need for community safety and responsible reporting mechanisms, as well as a deeper understanding of the marine environment and climate change adaptation for fishers.