Fisheries Minister Faces Parliament Over Cost of Digital Licensing Platform
Accra, Ghana —The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Emelia Arthur, has announced plans for the introduction of a digital one-stop shop licensing system for Ghana’s aquaculture sector, aimed at streamlining approvals and improving efficiency.
Appearing before Parliament, the Minister said the reform is designed to unify the fragmented licensing process, which currently requires separate permits from multiple agencies including the Fisheries Commission, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and the Water Resources Commission.
“People who are interested in investing in aquaculture have to go among all these agencies running around. The one-stop shop licensing regime will bring all processes into one platform,” Hon. Arthur explained. “You can even sit in your bedroom and submit your requirements as each entity requests of you.”
The minister told Parliament that software development for the new platform is complete and currently under testing, with full rollout expected in 2026.
Preparatory work includes the development of guidelines and an inter-agency memorandum of understanding between the Fisheries Commission, EPA, and Water Resources Commission to ensure seamless coordination.
“The fisheries staff are being trained on the software management and the whole process for complete takeover and implementation in the coming year,” she said.
The Minister added that the reform would enhance regulatory compliance, facilitate investment, and reduce in-person interactions, creating a more transparent and trackable licensing process.
The Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, welcomed the digital reform but demanded clarity on project costs, noting that the initiative began in 2022 and has since undergone revisions.
“The Minister tells us software has been developed to achieve this. May I know from her the costs involved in this, whether the previous costing is being maintained or there is a new procurement figure?” Afenyo-Markin asked.
In response, the Minister said the project had been “revamped” since 2022 and that updated cost details would be provided later “if Parliament permits.”
The one-stop licensing platform is part of government’s broader effort to modernize the fisheries sector and expand aquaculture production as a key driver of food security, employment, and export growth.
The system’s full automation is expected to cut approval timelines, improve investor confidence, and reduce corruption risks associated with manual processing.
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