By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has held a training on the use of Kobo toolbox, as a reporting tool for Landing Beach Enforcement Committees (LaBECs) and Zonal Officers of the Fisheries Commission in the Western Region, at Takoradi.
The Kobo toolbox, is a web-based free and open-source site for field data collection, used as a reporting tool for LaBECs, who are community-based committees formed in coastal communities to support the enforcement of fisheries laws in their respective communities.
The training, was attended by LaBECs and zonal officers of the Fisheries Commission from Half Assini, Shama, Cape 3 Points, Dixcove, Busua, Axim, and Egyan.
Mr. Osei-Akoto Nyantakyi, Programmes Officer of EJF, explained that “the Kobo Toolbox, is a free and open-source suite of tools for field data collection”.
He said the Kobo Toolbox application allows the LaBEC members to submit reports in real-time, allowing the Fisheries Commission officers to download the forms and act on the reported infractions at sea, as soon as the reports are submitted.
Again, he said the Kobo form, also allows the reporter to submit images and video evidence of illegal fishing at sea. “This ensures that the right information is submitted in real-time to allow for prompt and effective decision-making” he said.
According to Mr. Nyantakyi, LaBEC started in the Central Region in 2019, and was established by the Fisheries Commission with support from the EJF and Hen Mpoano.
He mentioned that he success of the initiative in the Central Region, led to the extension of the LaBECs in the Western, Greater Accra, and Volta regions. “The LaBECs are community-based committees that were formed to contribute to the collaborative management of fisheries resources, and consist of two committees: the enforcement committee, which is made up of ten community members, democratically elected by the fisher folk and the grievance committee, which has five members, namely an officer of the Fisheries Commission, an officer of the Ghana Police Service, the chief fisherman, a representative of the fish processors, and a member of the traditional council”, he further explained. He added that LaBEC, is expected to work with the Fisheries Commission and the Ghana Police Service, to help monitor and enforce the fisheries regulations of Ghana in their respective coastal communities.
Madam Matilda Ajakameh, Deputy Western Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, advised the LABECs to pay close attention and educate their colleagues in their respective communities on using the Kobo Toolbox as a reporting tool.
The training programme, was a collaborative effort between EJF, GFRA, and Hen Mpoano, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) through the Sustainable Oceans Project (SOP).
The SOP, is a three-year project funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the overall goal of the project, is to have a resilient and sustainable ocean economy in Ghana, achieved through inclusive, strong and effective capacity, planning as well as management of coastal ecosystems.
