Some beneficiaries of the Alternative Livelihood Project with organizers and community leaders
Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS), has appointed Global Communities Inc. to collaborate with the Ghana TVET Service to launch the Alternative Livelihood Project, an initiative aimed at equipping 100 individuals from five coastal fishing communities with vocational skills to enhance their economic opportunities.
The initiative will benefit members of Nungua, Sakumono, Tema, Kpone, and Prampram communities. As part of the project, a baseline study will be conducted to assess participants’ strengths before they undergo an intensive skills training program.
The training will cover various vocational fields, including welding, cosmetology, electrical engineering, carpentry, and painting. Upon completion, beneficiaries will receive official certification and startup tools.
During a community engagement session held at the Tema Fishing Harbour’s canoe basin, the initiative was formally introduced to stakeholders. The event was attended by community leaders, chief fishermen, the Vice President of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association, representatives from MPS, officials from Global Communities, and the Deputy Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service.
Speaking exclusively with Eye on Port, Dr. Eben Anuwa-Amah, a consultant and spokesperson for the beneficiary fishing communities emphasized the importance of the initiative in diversifying income sources and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for coastal residents.
He explained that, “after this training, there will be opportunities for attachment. They’ll be attached to various craft masters or industries to deepen the understanding. And for those who want to work for others they can apply to work for others, for those who want to stay on their own they’ll be equipped with the necessary tools to start their own businesses.
Within the training there will be entrepreneurship training, career counselling and guidance so and so forth so they can be self-sufficient not necessarily depending on others, except for those who want to work for others.”
On his part, Mr. Frank Ebo Brown, the Head of Legal & Compliance for MPS, admonished the beneficiaries who had gathered to make good use of the opportunity to impact their communities.
“We understand you are fisherfolk but not all our children can be fisherfolk too because they may possess different ambitions and talents. This arrangement we have put in place will help some of them pursue and earn some handicrafts that will make them employable for many years,” he noted.
This initiative builds on MPS’s long-standing commitment to socio-environmental sustainability. In 2022, the company donated GHS 6 million worth of resources to these fishing communities, including 2,000 bundles of fishing nets, 35 Yamaha outboard motors (40 horsepower), and two fully equipped canoes to help sustain traditional fishing activities.
