President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, August 21, assented to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025.

The new Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025, Act 1146, introduces bold reforms aimed at ensuring sustainability, compliance, and improved livelihood, especially among the small-scale fishers.

Parliament prior to its recent recess passed the following bills: the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025, the University for Development Studies Bill 2025, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill 2025, also known as MahamaCares, and the Social Protection Bill 2025.

The first two 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.

Key Highlights of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2025, Act 1146:Independent Fisheries Commission: Establishment of a fully autonomous body to develop, manage, and conserve fisheries and aquaculture resources.

Strengthen Legal and Regulatory Framework: Alignment with international best practices, enhancing Ghana's reputation and securing access to global markets.

Safeguarding Seafood Exports: Protection of over $425 million in annual seafood exports by closing compliance gaps and avoiding trade sanctions.

Stricter Enforcement Measures: Introduces tougher penalties against illegal fishing to restore depleted fish stocks and protect marine biodiversity.

Protection of Fisherfolk: Improved safety, security, and welfare standards for crew and workers on fishing vessels.

Expansion of the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ): Extends the IEZ from 6 to 12 nautical miles, protecting breeding grounds and ensuring more catches to sustain the livelihoods of over 2.7 million artisanal fishers and food security.

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 developmental 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.

The Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill, 2025, also known as MahamaCares, which was laid before Parliament on Monday, July 21 and subsequently approved, was opposed by the Minority. The caucus warned that it could put a strain on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) budget and its operations.

The Mahama Cares fund is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing healthcare access for many Ghanaians, particularly those battling chronic diseases and unable to afford the necessary medical treatment. The Bill seeks to end favoritism in awarding scholarships, ensuring allocations are based on merit and need.

The Social Protection Bill 2025 will provide a legal framework for social protection programmes that will enhance accessibility and equity in the delivery of social services to the impoverished communities.

“This bill will give legal backing and strengthen regulations of many social intervention initiatives in the country,” the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, July 31.

The Bill was passed after it faced strong opposition from the Minority in Parliament on Wednesday, July 30, who claimed that the proceedings lacked the required quorum. However, it has paved the way to set up the Social Protection Fund aimed at providing financial resources to tackle emergencies and the mobilisation of funds for social protection delivery.

The programmes include the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the Ghana School Feeding Programme, Basic Education Capitation Grants, and the National Health Insurance Exemption, among others.

Parliament, however, halted the consideration of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill, 2025, to allow for further consultations with stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Parliament is set to introduce the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) Bill, which aims to amend the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act. Among the key changes is the proposed renaming of the institution from “Centre” to “Authority,” along with revisions to other core provisions.

The Ghana Deposit Protection (Amendment) Bill is next on Parliament's agenda. The Bill proposes to change or improve certain parts of the order that protects people’s savings in case a bank fails.

The Exemptions (Amendment) Bill is a proposed law that intends to enhance how tax and duty exemptions are given in Ghana, ensuring that benefits are given to individuals who deserve them.

The other Bills yet to be deliberated by Parliament include the Customs (Amendment) Bill, the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Revenue Administration (Amendment) Regulations, the Public-Private Partnership Regulations, Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Regulations, the Exemptions Regulations, and the Conduct of Public Officers Bill.

Also, the Criminal and Other Offences Procedure (Amendment) Bill, Economic and Organised Crime Office Bill, Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill, Intestate Succession Bill, Legal Education Reform Bill, Legal Profession Bill, Notaries Public (Amendment) Bill, Presidential Transition (Amendment) Bill, State Property and Contract (Amendment) Bill, and Tribunals Bill are set to receive Parliament’s attention.