The Fisherwomen of Ghana

It’s early morning in Ghana, an hour before sunrise. Along the shoreline, hundreds of artisanal fishermen are outfitting their wooden dhows and pirogue canoes.  When they return later in the day, the catch will include sardines, anchovies, mackerels, and to a lesser degree squid, cuttlefish, and octopus, all of which will be offloaded and passed on to the women waiting on the beach.    

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     Although artisanal fishing is male-dominated, women comprise 46% of the sector’s labor force. They are responsible for everything from net mending and fish sorting to the preparation of the catch.  They also add value by preserving the fish to ensure their availability long after the peak season. Some women even finance fishing trips, guaranteeing them a portion of each catch.

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     The Konkohemaa is the most powerful woman in Ghana’s fishing community. Konkohemaa is translated as Queen Fishmonger.  In Ghanaian society, it is a title earned by a select group of women.  The term is derived from the Akan word konkoh, which means "fish." The word maa is a feminine suffix that is used to denote respect.

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     Queen Fishmongers are typically elected by the women in their community. They are known for their ability to negotiate good prices for the fish so that the business is profitable. They play an important role in ensuring that the fish are processed and sold in a hygienic manner.

     

     Queen Fishmongers also cook a portion of the catch. Fish is typically marinated for several hours, then either grilled, fried, or baked.  Garlic, curry powder, and yam pepper are used for flavoring. One of their most popular dishes is Waakye, a combination of rice and beans commonly eaten for breakfast or lunch. The rice and beans, usually black-eyed peas, are cooked together with red-dried sorghum leaves and limestone. Queen Fishmongers top off the Waakye with either tilapia or cod and sell it ready-to-eat at the local markets.  

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     For centuries, the Queen Fishmongers have helped ensure the livelihood of thousands of women along the Ghanaian coast.  Today, that livelihood is in danger of disappearing forever.

 

A Gateway to Hell

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     Ghana is located along the central coast of Africa. In addition to the Atewa Forest Reserve on its central plain, the country has for decades been known for its beautiful beaches and estuaries which stretch 334 miles along the Gulf of Guinea. For the people of Ghana, the sea is a conduit to the spiritual realm, the place where Nyankupon, the supreme deity, resides beneath the waves. Today, it seems more like a gateway to hell. 

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     Gone are the pristine beaches and sandy dunes that once graced the coastline.  In their place sit mounds of flotsam filled with pesticides, plastics, and disposable clothing.  In some places, it’s impossible to walk into the waves without stepping over piles of debris. According to a 2019 study by the University of Ghana, the country's beaches are covered with an estimated 2.3 million tons of waste that wreak havoc upon the local marine life.

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     Climate change has only added to the problems facing Ghana’s fishing industry.   Since 1960, Ghana has experienced a 1.0 °C. increase in temperature.  The rising temperature has caused the fishing population to migrate to the cooler waters offshore making them unattainable to artisanal fishermen due to the limited capacity of their fishing craft.

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     In 2019, research by Sustainable Fisheries Management revealed that despite increasing fishing efforts by the artisanal fishing fleet in Ghana’s waters, the yield has fallen by over 85%, from its 1996 peak of 138,955 metric tons. Research by the Environmental Justice Foundation projects that any further decline in Ghana’s fish stock would be catastrophic to the artisanal fishing communities.