Fishermen called for political stoppage in distribution of pre-mix fuel

Elmina (C/R) July 8 GNA - Fishermen in the Central Region have called for total stoppage of political interference in their activities, especially in the distribution of pre-mix fuel to enhance the effective and efficient administration of the commodity.

According to them, there are so many political appointees at the various local pre-mix committees that party interference at that level was very high.

The fishermen said this a forum held at Elmina on Tuesday organised by the Minister of Energy, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom as part of his tour of fishing communities in the country.

They urged the minister to institute a committee of enquiry into the circumstances that led to the alleged diversion of a consignment of the commodity meant for Cape Coast and Elmina to Agona Swedru, a non fishing community.

According to them "fishing business is for fishermen and politicians should not meddle in their affairs".

They expressed concern about the inconsistencies in the price of pre-mix, which they said was being sold at 16,500 cedis instead of 16,000 cedis.

They also expressed concern about the insufficient supply of the product at this time that they have entered the main fishing season. Addressing the fishermen earlier, Dr. Nduom announced that his Ministry would soon come out with a new policy that would enable private individuals and companies to order crude oil or refined oil for sale.

The Minister however, said that a committee had already been establish that would supervise the activities of such individual and companies to ensure consistency in the pricing of the commodity. Nii Bi Ayi Bontey, chairman of the national pre-mix committee reiterated that the government subsidises every gallon of pre-mix by 4000 cedis and appealed to them to take proper care of it. Later in an interview, the Central Regional co-ordinator of pre-mix, Mr Mustapha Mohammed denied that there has been any diversion of the commodity and challenged the fishermen to prove their claims. He further denied that there was political interference in the fishermen's affairs.