The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emilia Arthur, has tasked the Ministerial Committee for the Anomabo Fisheries College to develop an academic curriculum that meets international standards and best practices. 

She emphasised that it was crucial for the committee to design an academic curriculum that links educational outcomes to the practical demands of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, ensuring that trainees are adequately prepared to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the evolving fishing industry.

“The committee is tasked with developing an academic curriculum informed by industry needs and adheres to international best practices,” she said.

The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture was speaking at the inauguration of the Ministerial Committee to develop the fisheries curriculum in Accra last Friday. 

Scope of work, committee members

The committee is expected to review existing models of fisheries and aquaculture training institutions both locally and internationally over the next two months; select a suitable name for the college; establish the vision, mission and core values of the college; and propose an organisational and governance structure, including the roles of the board, academic council, management and administrative units.

It is also mandated to identify priority academic programmes such as diploma, degree, certificate and short courses and their respective learning outcomes; develop a draft curriculum framework such as modules, course content, credit hours, assessment methods among others.

The 16-member committee, which is chaired by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, also include, the Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Prof. Benjamin Campion; a Former Vice Chancelor of the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Prof. Elvis Nyarko; the Head of Maritime Safety and Security Centre at the RMU, Captain William Wricketts, as well representatives from union bodies in the sector, the council of state and other academicians in the fisheries sector.

Broader collaboration

Ms Arthur urged the committee to undertake wider consultation to gather all necessary inputs from relevant parties in order to develop a very comprehensive and forward-looking academic curriculum for the college.

The minister indicated that the mandate of the Ministerial Committee was both vital and forward-looking, as it was tasked with establishing the foundation for a transformative educational initiative that would play a key role in enhancing productivity and advancing performance within the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Background

The Anomabo Fisheries College Project commenced in 2012 as an intervention to enhance emerging professionals' expertise and skills to meet the fisheries sector's critical needs.

The project stalled over the years due to financial constraints and the low capacity of the Project contractors.

Efforts to revive the project formed part of President John Mahama’s renewed commitment and vision to enhance the sector through the completion of critical infrastructure components and operationalisation of the Anomabo Fisheries College.