Akateng, Ghana – Smallholder women fish farmers in Akateng have received hands-on training aimed at strengthening fish preservation through cold chain efficiency, as part of a broader initiative to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance profitability in Ghana’s aquaculture sector.

Held on Friday, 25th July 2025, at the Pentecost Church premises in Akateng, the Cold Chain Management Training Program was organized by the Chamber of Aquaculture, Ghana, in collaboration with the Danish Embassy, under the theme “Strengthening Fish Preservation through Cold Chain Efficiency.” The event brought together local fishmongers, aquaculture experts and international partners to promote practical knowledge and tools for improving post-harvest handling of fish. A total of 30 people participated in the training.

The program began with a presentation from Mr. Charles D. Agboada of CT-Technologies, who led an in-depth session on Cold Chain Management and Post-Harvest Opportunities for Fish Handling. He emphasized that fish begin to spoil immediately after harvest due to oxygen deprivation and bacterial activity, but this can be significantly slowed through proper icing, handling, and hygiene.

He explained the biological causes of spoilage and detailed cold chain steps such as immediate icing, the use of insulated containers for transport, clean processing environments, and cold storage practices. Mr. Agboada also introduced sensory methods for identifying spoiled fish by evaluating smell, texture, color, eyes, gills, and scales and outlined the economic consequences of post-harvest losses.



Beyond preservation, Mr. Agboada highlighted the potential of value-adding techniques like drying, smoking, frying, filleting, and producing processed products such as fish balls, fish sausages, and fish oil. These not only increase shelf life but also open new income streams and market opportunities for women fish handlers. Participants were also introduced to affordable innovations such as solar-powered freezers and mobile cold storage units suitable for off-grid communities.

Following Mr. Agboada’s session, Dr. Eunice Konadu Asamoah of the University of Ghana’s Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences led the technical component of the training. She reinforced the importance of maintaining a consistent cold chain from harvest to market.

Dr. Asamoah led participants through hands-on demonstrations in sorting, ice application, and hygienic storage. Her session also emphasized the role of simple practices—like shading, gutting while fish are still alive, and avoiding physical damage—in extending shelf life and improving market value.

The event further introduced participants to digital cold chain monitoring tools, including mobile apps and IoT devices, as well as packaging technologies like Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and biodegradable options that cater to both safety and sustainability goals.

In her closing remarks, a representative of the Chamber of Aquaculture reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to empowering women in aquaculture: “By building the technical and entrepreneurial capacity of women in fish processing and preservation, we are fostering stronger livelihoods and reducing post-harvest losses across Ghana’s aquaculture sector.”

The program concluded with a lively Q&A session, participant reflections, and a commemorative group photo. As Ghana’s aquaculture sector continues to expand, this initiative underscores the importance of education, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure smallholder women fish farmers are equipped to lead in post-harvest excellence and sustainable fisheries development.

The Chamber of Aquaculture, Ghana has intensified efforts to improve efficiency within Ghana’s fisheries sector through a Cold Chain Management Training held in Akateng, in the Upper Manya Krobo District. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen fish value chain systems and equip stakeholders with practical skills to reduce post-harvest losses and improve product quality.

Organized under the theme “Scaling Cold Chain Solutions for a Competitive Fish Economy,” the training took place at the Pentecost Church premises and convened fishers, processors, traders, and other value chain actors within the community. The engagement focused on building technical capacity in the handling, preservation, and storage of fish, with the ultimate goal of enhancing market competitiveness and increasing incomes.

Delivering the technical session, Dr. Eunice Konadu Asamoah led participants through key principles of effective cold chain management. She emphasized the importance of maintaining optimal temperature conditions from the point of harvest through transportation to the final market. According to her, consistent temperature control is critical in preserving the freshness, safety, and overall quality of fish products.

The session provided practical guidance on proper icing techniques, fish sorting, hygienic handling, and appropriate storage practices. Participants were taken through common gaps in post-harvest handling that often lead to spoilage, reduced shelf life, and financial losses. Dr. Asamoah underscored the direct link between improved handling practices and enhanced economic returns, noting that quality assurance plays a pivotal role in accessing better markets and commanding competitive prices.



The session provided practical guidance on proper icing techniques, fish sorting, hygienic handling, and appropriate storage practices. Participants were taken through common gaps in post-harvest handling that often lead to spoilage, reduced shelf life, and financial losses. Dr. Asamoah underscored the direct link between improved handling practices and enhanced economic returns, noting that quality assurance plays a pivotal role in accessing better markets and commanding competitive prices.

The inclusion of fish smoking broadened the scope of the training, ensuring that both cold chain and traditional preservation methods were addressed within an integrated framework. This approach reflects a growing recognition of the need for context-specific solutions that align with existing practices while introducing innovation and efficiency.

Participants actively engaged in the session, sharing experiences and challenges related to fish handling and preservation within the local context. The interactive nature of the training facilitated knowledge exchange and practical problem-solving, enabling participants to better understand how to apply the concepts within their day-to-day operations.

Key outcomes from the training included enhanced awareness of the economic and quality implications of poor post-harvest handling, improved understanding of cold chain systems, and increased capacity to adopt better preservation techniques. The program also strengthened collaboration between the

Chamber of Aquaculture, Ghana and local stakeholders, reinforcing a shared commitment to improving the performance of the fisheries sector. Although the training was conducted as a targeted engagement, it generated momentum for scaling similar interventions across other fishing communities within the district and beyond. The Chamber emphasized the importance of sustained capacity-building efforts as a critical pathway to reducing losses, improving livelihoods, and building a more resilient and competitive fish economy in Ghana.

The Chamber of Aquaculture, Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with community actors and stakeholders to expand the reach of such initiatives. By promoting best practices in cold chain management and fish processing, the organization aims to drive long-term transformation within the sector and contribute to national food security and economic growth.