Ghana has banned, with immediate effect, all tilapia imports, according to Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sherry Ayittey.

The ban is to help stimulate the local aquaculture industry.

Sherry Ayittey believes the new policy will help create a market for local fish farmers and also encourage higher production of the delicacy.

Ghanaians consume about 950 metric tonnes of Tilapia regularly, but local production is able to meet slightly less than half of that quantity – 450 metric tonnes.

The Fisheries Minister told private FM station, Joy, that her Ministry will roll out measures to enforce the ban.