Volta Lake Side Tilapia Industry

Volta Lake was the worlds largest man made lake from when it was completed in 1966 until the recent completion of the 3 Gorges dam in China. The surface of the lake takes up 8,500 sq km at about 3.6% of the overall land in Ghana. When it was made about 80,000 people had to be relocated. In 1965 that was 1% of the entire population of Ghana.

These were some big sacrafices for an early nation but it also secured electricity for Ghana and a new aluminium smelting plant. Today many people still take their livelihood from the lake. The Volta Lake is a giant supplier of farmed Tilapia for the region. Here is one operation that I stumbled upon on the shores of lake Volta. The fix are being cleaned and packed to be taken for buyers or to the freezer.

The lake looks huge from the shore with a disappearing horizon. You can see some of the floating pins and fish farming infastructure out in the water.

The landing beach is littered with fish food bags.

There are also nets and pin building supplies everywhere. Ghana is a country full of people who love to eat tilapia with a starchy ball called banku and some nice hot pepper.