Central/Western fishermen satisfied with pre-mix distribution

Cape Coast, May 17, GNA - The leadership of the Central and Western regional branches of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) and the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (GIFA) on Tuesday said they were satisfied with the distribution of pre-mix fuel and deplored attempts by the Ghana Cooperative Fishermen Council (GCFC) to have the fuel distributed through it.

Speaking on behalf of the fishermen at a press conference in Cape Coast on Tuesday, Nana Kweigya, the Central Regional Chief Fisherman, alleged that the Chairman of the GCFC, Nana Buckman, had "resorted to the writing of lies" against the leadership of the GNCFC and the GIFA in a bid to have the Ministry of Fisheries route the distribution of the fuel through it.

He said Nana Buckman had written to the sector ministry alleging that the regional leadership of the two groups were engaged in corrupt practices.

The Regional Chief Fisherman described the allegations as untrue and stressed that the fishermen were content with the allocation and distribution of the fuel directly to the fishing communities. Under this system, he said, a five-member local premix committee (LPC) with the chief fishermen as chairmen manage the allocation at the various outlets.

Nana Kweigya said the LPCs have been very effective and have been able to undertake development projects like toilets and streetlights to improve the standard of living in these communities from the profits accruing from the sale of the fuel. He cautioned that if the distribution of the fuel was handed over to the GCFC, "the profits would enrich the pockets of a few selfish men and the fishing community would suffer", alleging that the GCFC incurred a lot of debt when it was in operation. The chief fisherman of Elmina, Nana Kojo Solomon, also said the two groups "would never join the said cooperative" because they (chief fishermen) as stakeholders knew their people and the fuel got to the right people.