Maiden Fish Festival held in Tema

Tema, July 02, GNA - The Ghana Chefs Association (GHACA) on Republic Day inaugurated its 'Fish Festival' with a call on airline operators in the country to serve Ghanaian dishes, especially those made with fish, on their flights.
The festival, which evolved from the successes of the Tilapia Fair that has been running for the last three years, attracted all major stakeholders in the fishing industry including the Canoe Fishermen Association, hotels and traditional caterers.
The Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, Mr Daniel Dugan, said serving Ghanaian dishes on airlines would help promote the country's food which, like the continental dishes, is nutritious and presentable.
Mr Dugan urged chefs and traditional caterers to properly garnish Ghanaian dishes to attract the airlines and tourists. He appealed to the public to patronize fish and to promote the use of fishes caught from the country's waters.
Mr Stephen Dzilah, President of GHACA, said the festival was initiated by his outfit, which has over 400 members nationwide, to introduce the various fish dishes to the Ghanaian populace.
Mr Dzilah said increased consumption of fish would improve the fishing industry and the economy of the country through increased employment.
He appealed to the government to continue to develop good policies that would curb the increased fishing activities in the shores of Ghana by foreign trawlers.
The GHACA president said the festival would be an annual affair. "We want it to be a major national event that Ghanaians and tourists will look up to on the 1st of July every year".
Mr David Quaye Annang, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, congratulated the association for its quest to promote good cooking as well as promote Ghanaian dishes to the outside world.
Mr Annang promised that the Tema Metropolitan Assembly would add the festival to its yearly programmes.
The Labadi Beach Hotel, Ghana Traditional Caterers Association and Green Flaiva Restaurant won the first, second and third prizes and were presented with Unilever products.