Representatives of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) Secretariat participated in a working group meeting on Transparency in Ghana’s Fisheries Sector from 18 – 19 November 2020 in Accra, Ghana.

The meeting was organized by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Hen Mpoano, with financial support from the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The overall objectives of the meeting were: to establish a formal platform on transparency for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); to agree on key transparency priorities to act on after Ghana’s elections; and to discuss the modalities for funding.

The meeting brought together participants from the FCWC Secretariat, EJF, Hen Mpoano, Oil Watch, CEMLAWS Africa, Friends of the Nation, Chamber for Livestock and Fisheries, Care International, Development Institute, Journalist for Fisheries, Transparency International, KASA Platform, and Revenue Development International to map out a strategy for the CSOs to work collaboratively and achieve the key priorities identified. Key recommendations included; identifying and involving all stakeholders in the fisheries sector in decision-making; calling for a review of the 2002 Ghana Fisheries Act; making science-based data available to the public; and pushing for transparency in processes such as registering and licensing of vessels.

Kofi Taylor-Hayford,
FCWC Communication Officer.