Ghanaian high school students develop revolutionary hygienic approach to drying fish

pulse-ghana admin

July 28, 2017 9:24 PM

A group of students from the Manhean Anglican JHS in Tema, a city in the West African country of Ghana have designed the Anchovies Dryer to dry fish.

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A bunch of high school students in Ghana have created an upgrade on a centuries old fish drying method that could could change the hygienic face of the practice.

The fish business, especially, smoked and dried fish is very lucrative with a multi-million dollar market potential only in the US and the Europe.

According to a study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization, West Africa exports about 500 tonnes of dried and smoked fish every year to the tune of about $20Million.

Ghana is amongst West Africa’s major exporters of fish and with the growth of the African population living in the diaspora, the demand for dried and smoke fish continues to escalate.

In spite of the growing demand, African nations are not able to export the high quantities they should because of stricter standards for goods imported into the US and Europe.

In Ghana, the traditional method of drying fish is by the sun. With no storage facilities, fishes are laid along the ocean coast on stretches for the rays of the sun to dry it. There is little technology involved in this and health concerns are raised when fishes are left uncovered at the mercy of germs, flies and other insects.

As an innovation to the traditional system of sun drying, a group of young inventors from the Manhean Anglican JHS in Tema have designed the Anchovies Dryer.

A more healthy and efficient approach to fish drying, The Anchovies Dryer keeps the simplicity of the traditional system but delivers a much hygienic option.

The students presented their innovation as part of a Sci-Tech Fair at the 2017 edition of the National Science and Math Quiz.

pulse-ghana admin