GhanaWeb’s groundbreaking documentary on the 'Sex for Fish' phenomenon in coastal Ghana has received international recognition, earning the platform an invitation from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to deliver a one-hour presentation at a high-level roundtable discussion in Accra.

The roundtable, scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at the Best Western Premier Hotel in Accra, will bring together diverse stakeholders under the theme; “Gender, Climate Change, and Economic Vulnerability: Tackling Transactional Sex for Fish in Coastal Ghana.”

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In a formal invitation to GhanaWeb, UNESCO commended the platform for using its reach to spotlight the exploitative practice of transactional sex, in which some fisherfolk demand sexual favors from women and adolescent girls in exchange for access to fish.

The practice, which thrives in parts of Ghana’s coastal communities, particularly in the town of Ntsin in the Central Region, has long been identified as a driver of gender-based exploitation, health risks, and socio-economic vulnerability.

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According to UNESCO, GhanaWeb’s documentary will be used as a key reference point during discussions at the roundtable. The organisation has allocated a special one-hour slot for GhanaWeb’s editorial team to explain the production process of the documentary and to screen excerpts to participants.

The session is expected to deepen understanding of the drivers and impacts of the phenomenon while facilitating knowledge exchange and shaping sustainable, multisectoral solutions that empower adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).

By shedding light on this hidden yet pervasive social ill, GhanaWeb has played a critical role in exposing a canker that undermines gender equity, economic resilience, and community well-being.

The documentary has not only raised public awareness but has also attracted the attention of global institutions like UNESCO, who are now working with GhanaWeb and other stakeholders to chart a way forward.

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The upcoming roundtable discussion will also explore broader intersections between gender, climate change, and socio-economic vulnerability, with actionable policy recommendations expected to emerge.

GhanaWeb’s invitation marks a significant recognition of the media’s power to influence social change and amplify the voices of marginalised communities.

Watch the full documentary below: