On May 4th, 2023, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Charles Asuako Owiredu, paid a courtesy call on the Designated Minister, and Minister responsible for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Mr. Jean Francois Ferrari. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy at Maison Collet, Victoria.
At the start of the meeting, both parties expressed their desire to strengthen their cooperation in the fisheries sector. The High Commissioner voiced his optimism for the continued collaboration between Ghana and Seychelles in the fisheries sector and Minister Ferrari conveyed Seychelles’ gratitude to the Ghanaian Government for the long-standing relationship between the two nations that dates back to the 1900s.
Moreover, H.E. Owiredu stated that Ghana is interested in learning sustainable fisheries practices, including controlling fish stocks and preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) practices. Further to that, Minister Ferrari emphasized on the importance of creating fishermen-oriented organizations that work in parallel with the national efforts of the government and that the government should involve fishermen in policy-making discussions related to the fisheries sector.
Towards the end of the meeting, the High Commission was happy to note that there is a growing group of Ghanaian workers at the Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT) company in Seychelles. He stated that he was pleased that Seychelles recognizes the hard-working ethics that Ghanaians bring towards the fishing industry.
H.E. Owiredu was accompanied by Mrs. Ernestina Nyarko the Minister/Counselor for Information, Public Affairs and Diaspora, and Mrs. Patricia Boateng-Bannor, the Trade Attaché. Minister Ferrari was accompanied by Mr. Davis Mathiot, Third Secretary and Desk Officer for the Republic of Ghana, and Miss Gabriella Gonthier, Senior International Cooperation Officer.