Government compensates fishermen whose nets were destroyed by Task Force

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture on Friday presented multifilament fishing nets to seven fishermen whose fishing nets were destroyed by a Fisheries Task Force during a search for unapproved fishing nets at Akplagbanya in the Dangbe East, Greater Accra Region.

Speaking at the presentation, Nii Amasa Namoale, a Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of Fisheries, noted that the rest of the nets valued at GHC220,000 would be sold to fishermen across the country at a subsidized price.

He noted that the Ministry through the Fisheries Commission decided to replace the destroyed nets because the fishermen claimed they were using approved nets which could not be denied because the Task Force did not seek approval before burning the nets that were seized.

“They (fishermen) claimed they were not using monofilament nets and since our Task Force also did not bring the nets to our office for verification but destroyed them, we have no proof that they were using unapproved nets, hence our decision to repay them.”

Mr Mike Akyeampong, Chairman, Fisheries Commission, appealed to fishermen to respect the Fisheries Act so as to protect the fishing industry.