The objective of the task force primarily is to improve enforcement of required conditions for renewal of fishing license for fishing vessels in accordance with Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.I.1968), Fisheries (Amendment) Act,2014 (Act 880) and Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations, 2015 (L.I.2217).

The taskforce is mandated to among other things
- inspect sanitary and hygienic conditions and ascertain if they meet minimum sanitary conditions
- Inspect the cabins and washrooms facilities and ascertain if they are sufficient for the crew
- Inspect the validity of safety equipment and ascertain if it is sufficient for all crew
- Inspect Radio and communication equipment
- Inspect fishing gear
- Inspect validity of fishing license
- Inspect the fishing logbooks and ascertain if they have been properly filled
- Inspect the validity of insurance for hull and machinery
- Inspect insurance for crew and if all crew members are covered and
- Assess if a vessel has met the required conditions for undertaking fishing trip

The Task Force comprises
- Naval Captain Emmanuel Kwafo (Ghana Navy) as the chairman with the other members being
- Samuel Duodu Many (Post Harvest, Fisheries Commission)
- Rebecca Sackey-Mensah (Marine Fisheries Management Division)
- Enock Boadu Amo (MOFAD)
- Jeremiah Amoah
- Mavis Afoley Odai
- Nana Abrokwah Asare
- Michael Asiamah.

Inaugurating the taskforce, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quay noted that lack of adherence to fisheries laws creates a lot of problem to the fishing industry hence the need to enforce the laws to bring sanity to the sector.

She said even though the Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU) tasked with the enforcement of fisheries laws and regulations continue to deliver on its mandate, it is constrained in its operations nationwide since there are over 2000 landing sites along the marine coast and the Volta Lake, thus making it impossible for the FEU to cover all for effective law enforcement.

To this end, the fight against illegal fishing particularly along the marine coast requires a more effective approach hence the set-up of the task force on Inspection of Fishing Vessels.

She said the taskforce will be carrying out physical inspection so that those that do not obey the laws can be dealt with. Others who have license but do not actually have vessels can also have their licenses taken out.   

The Minister was sure that these measures among others that have been instituted will help prevent over fishing to reduce depletion of fishing stock in the Ghanaian waters.