Ghana’s fishing industry recorded a sharp 24.7% contraction in the second quarter of 2026, emerging as one of the weaker-performing areas of the economy, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The decline in fishing contributed to uneven growth within the agricultural sector during the period, even as Ghana’s overall economy expanded by 6.0% in Q2 2026.
The latest GDP figures show that the agricultural sector grew by 3.9%, significantly below the stronger performances recorded in services and information and communication technology (ICT).
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu said the contraction in fishing weighed on the overall performance of agriculture and underscored the challenges facing the sector.
“The contraction in the fishing sub-sector offset some of the gains recorded elsewhere within agriculture. This highlights the continuing challenges affecting productive activities in the fishing industry and the need to address the constraints limiting its performance,” he said.
The figures form part of the GSS’s second-quarter 2026 GDP estimates, which indicate that economic growth remained concentrated in key areas, particularly services, ICT, oil, and investment.
The sharp decline in fishing is expected to renew calls for targeted interventions to strengthen the fishing sector.
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