Tarkwa (W/R), Aug. 11, GNA - An aquaculture investors' conference is to be held in Ghana in January 2007. Hon Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries announced this at a meeting with the Wassa West District Fish Farmers Association (WWFFA) at Tarkwa as part of her five-day tour of the Western Region.

She said this would unearth the fish farming potential of the country and also woo foreign investors into fish farming areas. Mrs Asmah said already her Ministry had signed an agreement with the Chinese government to establish a fish feed factory in the country to boost fish production.

She said this would improve fish farming and create job opportunities for the youth.

The Minister noted that hitherto fish farming was considered as a hobby and therefore undertaken on small scale, saying, fish farming should be considered as a big time venture bringing in "big money". She commended the WWFFA for its efficiency and commitment they had attached to fish farming.

Mr Peter Ashun, Chairman, WWFFA, said the demand for fish would continue to rise due to the increasing number of mining companies doing business in the Wassa West District.

He said from the year 2003 to 2005 the Association benefited from a Ghana Government/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sponsored training programme in Capacity Building and Entrepreneurship Skills. As part of the training programme, the FAO created the awareness among the farmers to adopt a business approach to fish farming, Mr Ashun said.

He said three years ago, the Association received a 50-acre land at Aboso from Nana Eniml Kumah IV Busomtwihene of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area to enhance fish farming activities saying, "It is our anticipation to turn the place into a model fish-farming village".

He said Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) paid for the cost of demarcating the area, but since the former Minister was transferred from MOFA nothing had been heard about the Aboso project.

Mr Ashun appealed to the Minister to help make the project a reality during her tenure of office at the Fisheries Ministry.