Fishing sector declining under Akufo-Addo - Fishermen and Canoe owners

Chief Fisherman in Elmina, Ofarnyi John Quayson has revealed that the fishing sector has declined under the Akufo-Addo led government.

This he revealed is due to over 500 canoes which have been grounded resulting to a total of 10,512 losses of direct jobs in the sector.

Ofarnyi John Quayson said, “The fishing work has seen a steady decline since the assumption of office of President Akufo-Addo. As we speak, a total of 584 canoes across the country (per our count) have been grounded and their teams disbanded. The breakdown is as follow. Volta Region 76, Greater Accra 152, Central Region 244, Western Region 112” “The situation has resulted in a total of 10,512 losses of direct jobs.

This is aside the uncountable numbers of fishmongers, fish carriers, canoe secretaries, canoe guards and other auxiliary workers who have also lost their jobs. This certainly gives cause for concern. Doesn't it?” he questioned

The Canoe Owners and Fishermen Association also accused government of failing to provide enough outboard motors to them aside it sudden price surge from GHC 6000 under the Mahama led administration to GHC 17,000 under the current government.

“The government's inability to bring in enough numbers of outboard motors has led to the fleecing of fishermen who seek after these motors. Outboard motors which used to sell at GH¢4,900 and GH¢6,000 respectively under the Mills and Mahama administrations are now suddenly selling at a whopping GH¢17,000 and GH¢17,500 under this Akufo-Addo government. This is certainly not what we the fishermen asked for. We therefore find the continuous promises and claims by the president of his government having achieved a robust fishing industry not only laughable but disingenuous, and we hereby appeal to him to up his game and walk his talk.”

They therefore appealed to Akufo-Addo to pay attention to the fishing sector and to also fix the problems causing the collapse of the sector or he will be voted out come December 2020.

“…We therefore find the continuous promises and claims by the president of his government having achieved a robust fishing industry not only laughable but disingenuous, and we hereby appeal to him to up his game and walk his talk. The Akufo Addo government can continue to take us the fishermen of Ghana for granted at their own peril. Their deafness to our worsening plight and intransigence to our continuous pleas and appeals to pay attention to our work and fix the problems causing our otherwise booming business to collapse since they assumed office, can only lead to their humiliating rejection from us at the 2020 polls. Let those who have ears, listen,” he said