By Samuel Akumatey, GNA
Ho, Oct. 08, GNA – Madam Elizabeth Naa Afoley
Quaye, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, has reaffirmed the
Ministry’s hope in aquaculture as a major exit from the threat of dwindling
fishstock in the nation’s water bodies.
She said the Ministry was focusing on the
possibility of pursuing fish farming under the Planting for Food and Jobs
Programme, and would use key interventions to tend the industry into a bloom.
Madam Afoley Quaye was addressing the media
when she toured the 66 Artillery Aquaculture project site at the Volta Barracks
in Ho, during which she inspected the ponds, hatchery, and an adjoining farm.
The Minister who was in the company of Heads
of the Fisheries Department, commended the Regiment for the success of the
project, and said the Ministry was on the lookout for suitable sites across the
country to establish such projects.
Madam Afoley Quaye was optimistic that
varieties such as catfish would gain more preference in local cuisines and the
school feeding programme.
Captain Isaac Frimpong, Coordinator for the
project, said the Regiment was meticulously pursuing the initiative to create
employment and enhance food security.
He said the project begun with two ponds in
2012, and attracted the collaboration of the YEA in 2016, currently occupying a
12.5 hectare site with 119 intra cooler sandcrete ponds, an ultra-modern hatchery,
sedimentation tanks, boreholes and storage tanks.
Captain Frimpong said the aim was to construct
about 525 ponds, with space for hospitality facilities to develop the project
into a tourist attraction.
He said a 300 capacity resource centre with
ancillary facilities was also under construction.
GNA