GAA Allay Fears of Fish Eating Ghanaians
According to the Ghana Aquaculture Association (GAA), tilapia and other ornamental fishes on the Ghanaian markets are healthy for consumption.
This is in reaction to the announcement made by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development [MOFAD] , on the six month ban on the importation of Tilapia species and all ornamental fishes( Live or dead), including gametes-eggs and milk into the country.
Briefing newsmen in Accra , Mr. Peter Habib Angelo said although the GAA supports the government ban on the importation of tilapia , but we want to allay the fears and correct the negative effects the announcement had on tilapia and ornamental fishes on the local market. .
Mr. Habib who is the GAA’s Government Relations Officer, pointed out the TLC disease that has affected tilapia fishes around the world is not transferable to humans. ” “There is no scientific evidence that the virus is transferable to human if they eat Tilapia fish.”
According to Mr. Habib, the GAA had already taken measures to safeguard their farms and fishes from the virus and other viruses to ensure that none of them surfaced in Ghana and explained that there is an on-going awareness training for members of the Association on the need to embark on good husbandry practices on their farms.
The GAA Government Relations Officer also added that his outfits is in addition collaborating with the Fisheries Commission and Fish Health Experts to ensure that plans are put in place to tackle any sign of the virus before it took roots.
“We are actively working with the Fisheries Commission and other relevant government agencies to uphold government ban on the importation of foreign Tilapia onto the Ghanaian Market” he pointed out.
He appealed to the media to help spread the good news that tilapia fishes found in the markets are fit and healthy for consumption. The media has a key role to play to help our local fish farmers in this direction.
On his part, Dr. Schandorf, a fisheries expert at the Fisheries Commission appealed to government to take a second look at the decision to bring Fish Health Experts at the Ports. Officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority had indicated that they could not make distinction between fishes with the virus hence the need for Health Fish Experts at the Ports.
Ghana can produce enough fishes for its local consumption and therefore there is no need for us to import fishes from outside to augment our fish farmers since we already have competent and capable fish farmers to fulfill this task.
Source: Mohammed Saani Ibrahim
