The Volta Regional House of Chiefs has secured a major investment partnership with Chinese aquaculture company, Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd., aimed at developing large-scale fish farming in the Volta Basin.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Volta Regional House of Chiefs and the Chinese company, marking a significant step towards expanding commercial aquaculture in the region.
The initiative is expected to introduce large-scale and modern fish farming practices into the Volta Basin, while creating opportunities for employment, technology transfer and increased production of fish for both domestic and international markets.
The agreement was reached during an investment mission to China undertaken by a delegation from the Volta Region as part of efforts to attract strategic investments into the region.
The mission was conducted under the leadership of Ghana’s Ambassador to China, H.E. Kojo Bonsu, whose role was instrumental in facilitating engagements between the Volta delegation and potential Chinese investors.
The investment mission was coordinated by Hon. Peter Ahiekpor, who supported the delegation in its engagements with businesses and institutions in China.
The signing ceremony brought together traditional leaders from various parts of the Volta Region and representatives of Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd., providing an opportunity for both sides to outline their expectations from the proposed collaboration.
Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd. is described as a major player in China’s tilapia production and processing industry, with extensive experience spanning fish farming, processing and distribution.
According to information presented about the company, it has a daily tilapia processing capacity of approximately 150,000 kilogrammes across nine modern production lines.
The company is also reported to operate more than 260,000 tilapia ponds, reflecting the scale of its aquaculture operations and its experience in commercial fish production.
Its distribution network reportedly reaches a significant portion of the Chinese market, with the company supplying tilapia products to approximately one in every seven people in China.
Beyond the Chinese market, Moaming Yuantian Food Co., Ltd. is reported to export its tilapia products to more than 70 countries, giving the proposed partnership an international dimension.
For the Volta Region, the collaboration presents an opportunity to leverage the company’s experience and technical expertise to strengthen the region’s aquaculture value chain.
The Volta Basin, with its extensive water resources, has long been regarded as having considerable potential for fish production, although challenges relating to production capacity, technology, investment and value addition have limited the full exploitation of that potential.
The proposed investment is therefore expected to support the development of more commercially oriented fish farming operations, potentially improving production methods and increasing the availability of locally produced fish.
The partnership could also generate employment opportunities across different stages of the aquaculture value chain, including fish farming, feed production, processing, transportation, packaging, marketing and related services.
Traditional authorities involved in the initiative are expected to play an important role in supporting discussions around land, community participation and the creation of an enabling environment for the proposed investment.
The project is further expected to contribute to efforts to reduce dependence on imported fish by expanding domestic production and strengthening Ghana’s capacity to meet growing demand for fish and fish products.
Other chiefs who attended the signing ceremony included Togbega Gabusu VII of Hohoe, Togbe Atikpladza Agbi Yao VIII of Kpalime, Togbega Sei II of Botoku and Togbui Dagadu IX of Kpando.
Also present were Torgbui Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII of Anyako and Torgbiga Adamah III of Some, alongside other members of the delegation and representatives connected to the investment engagement.
The MoU represents another development in efforts by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to attract international investment into the region, with the proposed aquaculture project expected to position the Volta Basin as an important centre for commercial fish production in Ghana and potentially the wider West African market.
