Ghana Launches Africa’s First Food Innovation Hub (Aims for $10m Investment in Blue Economy)
Ghana has started Africa’s first Food Innovation Hub (FIH) as part of the World Economic Forum’s effort to change blue food systems and improve food security across the continent. The hub will speed up new ideas in fisheries, aquaculture, seaweed production, processing, cold chain logistics, and trade. It will also help businesses grow, create jobs, reduce poverty, and attract investment in the sector. Emelia Arthur, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, spoke at the launch in Accra. She called the initiative a “deliberate and strategic partnership” to make fisheries and aquaculture a strong part of national development. She also said that more than three million Ghanaians depend on the sector. The hub will also help find investment opportunities and test scalable solutions that can be used in many different places in Africa. Jacob Adzikah, the CEO of the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, said that the goal of the initiative is to get at least $10 million in private investment by 2032. They will soon start an accelerator program for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and start-ups. Board Chairman Henry Anim-Somuah and Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the National Lead of the World Food Forum Ghana and founder of the Agrihouse Foundation, both stressed the need for strong governance and collaboration across sectors to find solutions that work for everyone in Africa’s blue economy.
