The Economic And Social Contribution Of Fisheries To Gross Domestic Product And Rural Development In Ghana
The importance of the fisheries sector in the economic development of the country cannot be underrated. It plays a major role in the sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction in several households and communities. The Fisheries sector is estimated to contribute about 3 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 5 percent of the Agriculture GDP. These figures, however, are an underestimation. Fish is the preferred and cheapest source of animal protein and about 75 percent of total annual production of fish is consumed locally. The per capita consumption of fish is estimated at about 25 kg per annum representing 60 percent of animal protein intake by the Ghanaian populace. However, there is a recognised lack of understanding or appreciation of the impact that the artisanal fisheries sector makes to the Ghanaian economy. This lack of understanding is one factor that has led to the fisheries sector having a low profile on the political agenda and hence the low level of attention it receives in the policy formulation process. There is a case for arguing that the contribution of fisheries sector to the national economy is not adequately reflected in the official GDP statistics.
