About Us

However, with the passage of time, the name of the National Marine Fisheries Association was changed to the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, (NAFAG).
Along with the change of name of the National Marine Fisheries Association, also came the change of membership from fisheries associations, individual marine industrial fishing companies, cooperatives associations to the current membership of the five (5) underlisted fisheries associations that represent the
five (5) sub-sectors of Capture Fisheries of Ghana:
Ghana Tuna Association (GTA);
Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA);
Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (GIFA);
Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC); and
National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (NICFC)
As a result of the said changes, NAFAG became the umbrella fisheries association in the Country that coordinates the activities of the said five (5) fisheries associations.
The association continued to operate as a Company Limited by Guarantee under the COMPANIES CODE, 1963 (ACT 179) until, 30th January, 2024 when a new Constitution was adopted and promulgated during an Extraordinary General Meeting.

MISSION STATEMENT
Article Six of the NAFAG Constitution provides as follows:
“To support professionalism in the fishing industry and promote socio-economic livelihoods amongst members, promote effective, efficient and well-coordinated fishing industry through Capacity Development, Research, Evidenced Based Advocacy, Policy influence, Knowledge development including Science and Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK)1, Information sharing and other best governance practices in Ghana”.

COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Article Thirty of the NAFAG Constitution stipulates, inter-alia, that:
The Board of Directors of the Association shall be known as the Executive Council.
The members of the Executive Council are:-
1. One (1) President (Artisanal or Industrial Sector)
2. One (1) Vice President (Artisanal or Industrial Sector)
3. One (1) Board Secretary
4. One (1) Treasurer
5. One (1) Financial Secretary
6. One (1) Executive Secretary (non-voting members)
7. Five (5) Representatives, one from each member association.
8. Five Trustee(s), one from each member association.
9. Two (2) Co-opted members that represent NAFAG on Fisheries Commission Board.
Members of the Executive Council of the Association shall be sixteen (16) comprising three (3) representatives from each of the established members and the Executive Secretary. Two co-opted members that represent NAFAG on the Fisheries Commission Board shall be included when they are not part of Executive Council.
The current membership of the Executive Council that took office on 30th January, 2024 for a four-year term is listed below:
NANA JOJO SOLOMON – PRESIDENT
GHANA NATIONAL CANOE FISHERMEN COUNCIL
MR. RICHSTER NII AMARH AMARFIO – VICE-PRESIDENT
GHANA TUNA ASSOCIATION
MRS. KATE ANSAH – BOARD SECRETARY
GHANA INDUSTRIAL TRAWLERS ASSOCIATION
MR. JOSEPH NII ARMAH QUAYE – TREASURER
GHANA INSHORE FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
MR. ROBERT AZUMAH – FINANCIAL SECRETARY
NATIONAL INLAND CANOE FISHERMEN COUNCIL
MR. SAMMY NII OKAI QUAYE – MEMBER
GHANA INDUSTRIAL TRAWLERS ASSOCIATION TRUSTEE
MR. JACOB KABORE TETTEH AGEKE – MEMBER
NATIONAL INLAND CANOE FISHERMEN COUNCIL TRUSTEE
MR. FRANK AIHOON – MEMBER
GHANA TUNA ASSOCIATION TRUSTEE
MR. NII OKAI JACKSON – MEMBER
GHANA NATIONAL CANOE FISHERMEN COUNCIL TRUSTEE
MR. JOE KRAMO – MEMBER
GHANA INSHORE FISHERIES ASSOCIATION TRUSTEE
JOHN DAVIDSON – MEMBER
GHANA TUNA ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE
MR. ABEKA AIDOO – MEMBER
GHANA NATIONAL CANOE FISHERMEN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
OYEMAN OFORI-ANI – MEMBER
GHANA INDUSTRIAL TRAWLERS ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE
MADAM DELIGHT ESI AMETEPE – MEMBER
NATIONAL INLAND CANOE FISHERMEN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
MR. FRANCIS ESHUN – MEMBER
GHANA INSHORE FISHERIES ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE
MR. DANIEL YAW OWUSU – MEMBER
AG. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
MR. STEPHEN ADJOKATCHER – CO-OPTED MEMBER
(FORMER FISHERIES COMMISSION BOARD MEMBER)

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
General Council – the highest decision making body of NAFAG Composed of ten (10) representatives from each of the various associations.
Among its functions are the approval of the Annual Work Plan and Budget of the Association, endorsement of the decision or otherwise of the Executive Council to admit new members, suspend or expel any members of the Association.
The Executive Council, whose functions include the approval of the Annual Work Plan and Budget of the Association, decide on all matters which affect the finances and growth of the Association but not otherwise planned for or approved by way of the annual Plan.
Advisory Council – Composed of five (5) persons nominated by the Executive Council and approved at the Annual General Meeting, the Council whose term of office is coterminous to that of the Executive Council provides strategic advice to the Executive Council on any matter as and when necessary.
The National Secretariat – a fully functional Secretariat of the Association headed by the Executive Secretary and located within the premises of the Headquarters of the Association is established by the
Executive Council. Among its key functions is the planning, implementation and coordinating center of the Association.

SECTORS IN THE INDUSTRY
Operators of the sectors of the industry are organized and function through their respective associations;
Ghana Tuna Association (GTA);
Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA);
Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (GIFA);
Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC); and
National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (NICFC)
All the five (5) associations are represented on the Executive Council where discussions are held on matters pertaining to the fishing industry and decisions taken which are disseminated to leaders of the five (5) Associations who, in turn, inform their respective members for necessary action.

OPERATIONS
As the Umbrella Fisheries Association in Ghana, NAFAG operates within the Aims/Objectives of the Association as provided in Article Seven, key among which are listed below:
To promote, develop and protect the fishing industry in Ghana and in particular, protect the interest of members of the Association in so far as they carry on the fishing industry in Ghana and the regional community.
To represent and give effect to the views and opinions of the members in all matters connected with the fishing industry in Ghana.
To promote legislation or other measures which could or might affect the members in carrying out their business in the fishing industry in Ghana and the fishing environment i.e. seas, rivers, lakes, lagoons and other water bodies.
To collaborate with all stakeholders in the industry to promote sustainable and responsible fishing activities that will preserve the fisheries resource and be environmentally friendly.
To undertake and support skills development and knowledge building in the fisheries sector.
To promote and initiate actions for increasing locally produced fish products on the local and international markets.
To promote schemes for the preview of infrastructure for the handling of locally
produced fish products.
To establish relations with local and international bodies and organizations relating to the fishing industry.
To institute, encourage and support research and similar activities aimed at enhancing technology in the local fishing industry.
To undertake any other activities that would enhance the fishing industry.
The Association is established for the object stated above and to represent, express and give effect to the opinion and interest of its members and being instituted solely for these purposes, the Association shall not become affiliated to, endorse, support in any way whatsoever or subscribe any of its funds to
any political party.
In pursuance of the Aims and Objectives of the Association and in the spirit of the Co-management Policy, members of NAFAG participate actively in meetings, workshops and all key stakeholder engagements with the sector Ministry and Fisheries Commission who are the regulators of the fisheries sector.
NAFAG also engages key stakeholders and collaborators in the fishing industry, both public and Civil Society Organization, Development partners, etc, over a wide range of issues, including development of polices, implementation strategies, legal frameworks provisions, capacity development of its members, etc .
NAFAG plays a critical role in the distribution and monitoring of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) Which is used by Industrial Fishing Vessels (Industrial Trawlers and Tuna Vessels) and Semi-Industrial Fishing Vessels.