Blue economy tops discussions between Seychelles and Ghana
The two countries discuss the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation
SEYCHELLES: Fisheries and the blue economy emerged as the most substantive area of near-term cooperation between Seychelles and Ghana as the two countries move to discuss the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC).
Presenting his Letters of Credence to President Dr Patrick Herminie at State House this week, the newly accredited Ghanian High Commissioner Benjamin Anani Quashie, formally proposed the establishment of the PJCC.
The proposal, framed by High Commissioner Quashie as a mechanism to give “strategic direction and continuity” to an expanding bilateral agenda, would create a structured platform to review progress, set priorities, mobilise expertise and ensure that existing agreements translate into tangible outcomes, particularly for the youth of both nations.
It also represents the most concrete institutional step yet in a relationship that has accelerated markedly since a landmark state visit in 2024.
As an outcome of the meeting, President Herminie called for the swift conclusion of a proposed MoU on Fisheries and Aquaculture and proposed expanding exports of Seychellois fish and seafood products to the Ghanaian market.
High Commissioner Quashie responded by explicitly recognising Seychelles' global leadership in ocean governance, committing Ghana to finalising the fisheries MoU and to practical cooperation on traceability, stock management and skills development, framed as support for "healthy oceans and resilient coastal livelihoods" across the wider continent.
Trade and investment links
On the economic track, President Herminie reiterated Seychelles' support for implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and called for closer engagement between the two countries' chambers of commerce and investment agencies. High Commissioner Quashie went further, committing Ghana to revitalising ties between the Seychelles Investment Board and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, encouraging business-to-business linkages and youth-focused capacity-building in the green and blue value chains, and pointing to near-complete progress on a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement designed to give investors greater certainty.
These economic commitments were set within a wider continental and multilateral frame: as members of the African Union, the United Nations and the Commonwealth, both sides affirmed a shared commitment to peace, rules-based cooperation and regional stability, with High Commissioner Quashie stressing that the benefits of frameworks like the AfCFTA must be tangible for small and large economies alike.
PHOTO: The newly accredited Ghanian High Commissioner Benjamin Anani Quashie with the President of the Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie.
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