Gov’t asked to expedite action on beach project

Government has been asked to expedite action on the construction of landing beaches along the six coastal districts in the Western Region, to help reduce illegal activities on the sea.

Nana Kwesi Bene, Chief Fisherman at Axim in the Jomoro District of the region, who made the call, said illegal activities by fishermen along Ghana’s shores, included the use of banned nets, lights, chemicals suspected to be formalin (a chemical for preserving corpses) and fishing around the oil rigs.

The Chief Fisherman, who is a member of the Coastal Platform for Peace building (COPP), a conflict mitigating wing of the West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP-Ghana), said unlike Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire had a better fishing regulation system.

He made the call during the fourth meeting and refresher training workshop for COPP members in conflict handling mechanisms.

The meeting also discussed the award of scholarships, armed robbery at the anchorage at New Takoradi and siphoning of diesel from vessels.

Nana Bene said in Cote d’Ivoire, every fishing vessel that used the shores of that country, entered the sea through a designated security point, and left through the same point, to ensure the maximum protection and security of vessels.

The COPP members appealed to Government to complete the landing beaches project to promote the fishing industry.

Mr Justin Bayor, National Network Coordinator of WANEP-Ghana, asked stakeholders to support efforts aimed at improving security along the country’s beaches.