Ghana faces EU ban on fish importation after receiving yellow card
Ghana could soon face a ban on fish exports to the European Union (EU) if urgent steps are not taken to clean up the country’s fishing sector.
This warning comes as the country has already received two “yellow card” warnings from the EU — the first in 2013 and the second in 2021 — for engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. If Ghana fails to resolve these issues by 2026, the country risks being slapped with a “red card”, which would mean a total ban on fish exports to the EU.
This concern was raised by Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee on Food, Aquaculture and Cocoa Affairs, during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Accra on Friday. The meeting was aimed at finalising a draft Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, which is intended to help regulate and bring sanity to Ghana’s fishing industry.
Dr. Jasaw emphasized the seriousness of the situation and explained that the EU yellow card warnings are issued to countries that fall short in controlling illegal fishing activities within their waters.
“We were issued yellow cards in 2013 and again in 2021 for the same offence of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. If we don’t clean up our act, we may receive a red card in 2026,”
he stated.
The draft bill, which is now before Parliament, includes inputs to address EU concerns. However, Dr. Jasaw said it still requires feedback and support from stakeholders in the fishing industry to make sure it meets international standards.
Impact on livelihoods
Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, also addressed the meeting. She highlighted the wide-reaching impact that a ban would have on the country. According to her, over three million Ghanaians depend on the fisheries value chain for their livelihoods. A red card would therefore be economically devastating.
“Ghana is one of the biggest fish exporters to the EU market. A ban will not only disrupt business but also significantly cut down our export earnings,”
she said.
Madam Arthur stressed the need for a legal framework to guide and sanitize the sector. She said the proposed Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill has already been laid before Parliament under a certificate of emergency, and once finalised, it will be submitted to the EU and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for further input before passage.
Concerns from stakeholders
During the discussions, industry players expressed concern over the poor state of management in the sector. They emphasized the importance of fish to Ghana’s economy and food security, and called for better regulation to meet the country’s international obligations.
One major issue raised was the weak enforcement of laws against foreign vessels engaged in illegal fishing. Stakeholders argued that captains of these vessels should not simply be deported but rather prosecuted under Ghanaian law.
“Repatriating illegal vessel captains does not solve the problem. They must be prosecuted here to serve as a deterrent,”
one participant suggested.
About the bill
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill under discussion is quite comprehensive. It consists of 167 clauses and 170 sections, covering key areas such as:
Inland fisheries management
Aquaculture development
Offences and penalties
Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms
The new bill replaces the old legislation which expired with the previous Parliament and is now under review by the current one. Lawmakers hope that passing the bill will demonstrate Ghana’s commitment to tackling IUU fishing and help avoid the EU red card threat.
In summary, Ghana’s fishing industry is at a crossroads. The threat of a ban from the EU is real, and both government and stakeholders must work together to pass strong legislation and enforce it effectively. The future of millions of livelihoods — and the country’s international reputation — depends on it.