C/R
fishermen favour scrapping of Fisheries Ministry
Cape Coast, Feb. 10, Ghanadot/GNA - A
cross-section of fishermen in the Central Region on
Tuesday, expressed their approval of the decision by
government to scrap the Fisheries Ministry.
According to them, its establishment did more harm
than good, particularly to artisan fishing.
They said the establishment of the Ministry, rather
brought in its wake, “tough times” for fishermen and
rendered them impoverished, as their major concerns
like pair-trawling and the use of dynamite and flash
lights in fishing, were never properly addressed
despite persistent appeals.
A spokesman for the fishermen, Mr John Aubyn, made
this known at a press conference in Cape Coast.
He debunked rumours by “some unscrupulous
infiltrators into the fishing communities”, that
fishermen were unhappy at the scrapping of the
Ministry.
He alleged that under the Ministry, fishing inputs,
including outboard motors were sold to them at
exorbitant prices, with rigid terms of payment,
which many of them could not afford, while the
administration of premix fuel was “full of corrupt
practices”.
Mr Aubyn explained that before the creation of the
Ministry, activities within the fisheries sector
were smooth, with fishing inputs and loans through
the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), accessed
without any difficulty or obstacles.
The administration of premix fuel, he said was also
smooth with no impediments and that local fishermen
were satisfied because the industry was vibrant.
Mr Aubyn, denied another rumour that President John
Atta Mills has promised retirement benefits for
fishermen and stressed that the President has made
no such promise, nor have fishermen in the country
made such a request.
“We are fully confident that when President Mills’
government starts full scale work all the problems
and concerns confronting fishermen would be
addressed to enable fishing communities in the
country to enjoy good livelihood”, he declared.
He appealed to the President to as a matter of
urgency, consider appointing representatives of
artisan fishermen on the Fisheries Commission to
cater for their interest and that of the industry as
a whole.
It would be recalled that late last month,
government announced the re-alignment and scrapping
of some Ministries, including the Fisheries
Ministry, to curb government expenditure.
Representatives from various fishing communities
from Komenda, Moree, Elmina, Anomabu, Saltpond and
Biriwa attended the conference.
GNA
