Introduction
Aquaculture plays a crucial role in Ghana's food security and economic development. However, smallholder fish farmers, particularly women, often face significant challenges related to biosecurity, disease management, climate change impacts, and post-harvest losses. Recognizing these challenges and the vital role women play in the aquaculture value chain, the Chamber of Aquaculture, Ghana, in partnership with the UK Government-funded Animal Health System Strengthening (AHSS) Programs and supported by the Danish Embassy, organized a specialized capacity-building workshop. This initiative aimed to equip women smallholder fish farmers with essential knowledge and practical skills to enhance their resilience and productivity.
Background
The Animal Health System Strengthening (AHSS) Programme is a multi-country initiative designed to fortify aquatic animal health systems in African nations, including Ghana, Zambia, and The Gambia. Within Ghana, the program is implemented through strategic partnerships between key agencies and private sector actors. This workshop specifically targeted women fish farmers, acknowledging that empowering them is essential not only for achieving gender equity but also for building more resilient and inclusive food systems nationwide.
Training Overview
The Chamber of Aquaculture, Ghana, successfully hosted a one-day capacity-building training on Wednesday, 5 June 2025, at the Lakeside Lounge, Kasoa–Weija. The training brought together women fish farmers from the Oti, Volta, and Afram Plains regions, providing them with practical insights and hands-on experience in critical areas of aquaculture.
The training curriculum focused on:
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Aquaculture Biosecurity: Developing farm-level biosecurity plans to prevent disease outbreaks.
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Disease Identification and Reporting: Early detection methods and proper reporting protocols for fish diseases.
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Climate Change Adaptation: Strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on aquaculture operations.
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Smart Water Monitoring Technologies: A live demonstration of AquaMet’s smart device for real-time fish health and water quality management.
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Post-Harvest Management: Discussions on cold chain management and value addition techniques to reduce losses and explore new income streams.
Key Outcomes and Impact
The training successfully created a dynamic environment for knowledge sharing, peer networking, and direct engagement with sector regulators and technology innovators. Participants gained practical exposure to innovative tools and techniques, which will enable them to:
• Implement robust biosecurity measures on their farms.
• More effectively identify and report fish diseases, contributing to better aquatic animal health surveillance.
• Utilize smart technologies to improve fish health and water quality.
• Reduce post-harvest losses and explore new value-added opportunities, enhancing their profitability and market access.
The Chamber of Aquaculture highlighted that empowering these women is a crucial step towards fostering resilient and inclusive food systems in Ghana, directly contributing to national food security goals.
Next Steps and Commitment
The Chamber of Aquaculture, Ghana, is committed to scaling similar initiatives across the country. The success of this workshop reinforces the need for continuous capacity building to ensure that women in aquaculture are equipped with the necessary skills and resources to thrive in an increasingly competitive and climate-sensitive industry. Future efforts will focus on expanding the reach of such training programs to more regions and integrating new technologies and best practices to further support women fish farmers.
