Parliament of Ghana has so far this week passed two bills—the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025 and the University for Development Studies Bill 2025—after taking them through a certificate of urgency.

These bills were approved by the House on July 19. Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Hon. Emelia Arthur was present in Parliament for the approval of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025.

The sector minister revealed to the House that the bill has been revised to reflect Ghana’s commitment to the Blue Economy agenda by harnessing marine and aquatic resources sustainably to support economic growth, social inclusion, food security, and environmental protection.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs, Hon. Jasaw Seidu Godfred, while presenting the committee’s report, noted that the sustainable management, utilization, and exploitation of the fisheries and aquaculture resources require the existence of a robust legal framework that governs fishing activities, regulates resource extraction, and ensures compliance with international and national environmental standards.

He indicated that the fisheries and aquaculture sectors contribute significantly to national development in areas such as job and wealth creation, poverty reduction, gross domestic product contribution, and foreign exchange.

Minister of Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, also appeared before Parliament for the approval of the University for Development Studies Bill 2025.

Explaining the purpose of the bill to the House, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu noted that the bill seeks to establish the University for Development Studies (UDS) through the re-enactment of P.N.D.C.L. 279.

This, he said, will help to restructure and empower the University for Development Studies to provide quality and higher education to meet the diverse and development needs of the country.

On his part, Chairman of the Education Select Committee of Parliament, Honorable Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, acknowledged the significant structural changes that have taken place since the establishment of the UDS over the past 32 years of its existence.

He highlighted the need to review P.N.D.C.L. 279 to bring the law into conformity with current policy and best practices adopted in public universities in Ghana to enhance the effectiveness of tertiary institutions in achieving their mandate.