Ghana’s coastal communities depend on the ocean for life and livelihood but in recent years, overfishing, habitat loss, and weak governance have pushed small pelagic fisheries to the edge of collapse. The With Fishers, For Fishers (WF³) project steps in as a bold, community-driven effort to rebuild these fisheries and restore the ecosystems that sustain them.
Implemented by Hen Mpoano and generously funded by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation the project spans July 2025 to June 2027, focuses on the Greater Cape Three Points Area in Ghana’s Western REgion and also in the Central Region. This coastal zone is home to thousands of fishers, processors, and families who rely on the sea for their daily survival.
Why WF³?
Ghana’s small pelagic fish like sardines and anchovies have declined to less than 15% of sustainable levels. The closure of the national fishing season and the abrupt end of the USAID Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA) left a major gap in conservation efforts. Meanwhile, women and youth in fishing communities face rising economic hardship, gender-based violence, and shrinking opportunities.
WF³ is a direct response , a partnership with fishers, for fishers to protect marine life, rebuild institutions, and restore dignity and opportunity along Ghana’s coast.
WF³ seeks to:
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Rebuild fish stocks and strengthen community-based co-management systems.
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Support the declaration of Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area (MPA) at the Greater Cape Three Points area.
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Empower women and youth with livelihood skills, mentorship, and access to Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).
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Enhance fisheries enforcement through Landing Beach Enforcement Committees (LaBECs).
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Foster policy dialogue through platforms like the Science and Technical Committee and the Fisheries Management Operational Committee.
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Strengthen Hen Mpoano’s organizational capacity for long-term leadership in coastal governance.
WF³ isn’t just about fisheries it’s about people. It’s about helping over 5,000 fishers, processors, and youth across 21 coastal communities to rebuild what’s being lost, while creating pathways for a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future.
By the end of the project, we envision stronger local governance, improved livelihoods, and the successful gazettement of the Greater Cape Three Points MPA a historic milestone for Ghana’s marine conservation journey.
WF³ is about restoring balance — between people and nature, livelihoods and sustainability, tradition and innovation. It’s about proving that when fishers are empowered, the ocean recovers, and when women lead, communities thrive.
Contact
Peter Canicius Kuusaana
Project manager
Email : pkuusaana@henmpoano.org / canicius4@gmail.com
