Hello folks, how you do? TRACE Joenal was lucky to be part of a team of development-oriented people. These are people that mean well for Sierra Leone including Seawright Mining Company. From the Chief Executive Officer to the list staff, their minds are set on innovation and creativity that will bring smiles to the poorest of the poor. It was not a mistake when Dr. Alfred Seawright came with another powerful idea that will benefit Sierra Leone, and that is the Fish Farming.
Some countries are far ahead and they are contributing greatly to their country’s GDP. It was made clear when a fifteen man delegation from Sierra Leone visited Ghana to undertake the first ever aquaculture research.
The team left Sierra Leone on the 30th May and returned on the 3rd June 2019 and it was solely sponsored by Seawright Mining Company. The team comprises of: Jabulani Mkoko Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Sai Josephine Konomanyi Human Resources Manager, Mohamed Tunkara Finance Manager, Ibrahim Suma Project Manager, and Musa Sahr John Boiler Maker from Seawright Mining Company. The Ministry of Agriculture sent Mrs. Jeneba Alharism, SLARI sent Mustapha Sly Bayon while Njala University sent Dr. Julius Olapade, Head of Department, Aquaculture, Dr. Mathew Kpundeh , Senior Lecturer, Aquaculture Department, Asanatu Patrick and Daniel Komba Bayo Student of Aquaculture Department. Besides that, two members of Parliament were on the list: Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers of Constituency 102, Pujehun District is Seawright Mining consultant and the honourable that hosts Seawright Mining Company in Kono, Hon. Tom Issic Tucker of Constituency 022 Kono District.
The following day on arrival Dr. Christian Larbi Ayisi, Lecturer, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, University for Development Studies Northern Ghana, received the delegation from Sierra Leone. He wasted no time to take us around the most successful points of fish farming in Ghana. For some of the team members including TRACE Joenal it was the first time to get such experience about fish farming after toured places like the Lake, the hatchery for cat fish, the State Research Center, S-Hoint Ltd, Aindo-Ansah Farm Limited in Okyereko – Winneba Eastern Region and Raanan Fish Feed Ltd. A total of four sites the team visited and observed the process, smoking and packaging and distribution of cat fish among others.
TRACE Joenal believed this is the first every research undertaken by the vibrant and innovative company. Dr. Ayisi, told us about the decline in capital fishing but quick to say aquaculture has come to solve the problem in respect of protein. “Aquaculture is not a joke in Ghana, the government is pushing on it and more research is being done.” Recently, the government of Sierra Leone placed a band on all capital fishing because of the fear of shortage and the bed method of fishing.
He said Ghana started from scratch; Sierra Leone too can do the same as the team comprises Lawmakers. Here Dr. Ayisi stressed, “Feed is what Sierra Leone should go along with, if they do not get the right feeds, everything will crash. The team should go with a positive mind that they are capable of doing it.” Indeed the mind of Sierra Leone can do it, drives Dr. Seawright to this venture as indicated by Jabulani Mkoko, Seawright Mining Company Chief Operation Officer “We are here to look at the models Ghana is using, for us to adopt the best practices in Sierra Leone after which we can model our own business and that weill make us to avoid the pitfall Ghana business went through in its initial stages.” He said from the research, Seawright Mining Company will start with limited possible challenges because they have learnt all that needed, such as the appropriate supply of good quality feeds among others.
Seawright Mining Company is still in an exploration stage and the company is trying to diversify. At its current stage, they have done lots for the people in their operational areas and even beyond. One of Ghana biggest fish farms is Aindo-Ansah Farm Limited in Okyereko – Winneba Eastern Region of Ghana and the Managing Director; Jacob Ainoo-Ansah explained how he started in 2010 and said fish farming contributes to Ghana GDP quite significantly and about 2,200 farms have created employment and food security.
On the side of challenges, he said one needs to understand the market, who to share it with, develop infrastructure and marketing which is very important. Feeds, he also emphasized constitutes about 70 to 90%; while technical know how is also very important as technology is changing day by day and a managerial skills because it is a business. “I will say to Sierra Leone they have to be thinking about the future, regarding food security. Fish farming is not an option; about 50% of international markets are fish farming therefore Sierra Leone cannot escape from it. If you compare it to capital fishing, capital fishing is easier but it is not guarantee. Sierra Leone should start it and take it serious; it is a business and an art.” Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers, Hon. Tom Issac Tucker and Dr. Olapade Olufemi Julius expressed their appreciation for such venture undertaken by Seawright Mining Company. They pledged their commitment to the process for it to be a success. Hopeful, with the determination of the team TRACE Joenal believed there is light at the end of the tunnel.
TRACE Joenal is a regular column brought to you by Ibrahim Joenal Sesay, Senior Staff Writer of SALONE TIMES NEWSPAPER, Best Human Right Reporting award winner and Advocate for Change in Sierra Leone. You can follow him on www.samnewsplus.com,Twitter & Facebook @tracejoenal or E-Mail salonesij@gmail.com
