Govt urged to re-consider premix fuel price

The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, on Tuesday appealed to the government to reduce the price of premix fuel to prevent the industry from collapse.

The council said it fully appreciates and highly commends government for the bold and courageous steps it adopted by increasing petroleum products to remedy the country's ailing economy but deplored the rate at which the prices were increased.

Nii Abeo-Kyerekuandah IV, the Executive Secretary made the appeal at the Council's General Meeting in Accra.

The meeting was to enable members to share ideas and discuss possible ways of saving the industry from collapse.

He said canoe fishing produces about 70 percent of the national total fish landings and any attempt by government to turn down their appeal would bring untold hardship to fishermen.

He said the current increase from 7,500 cedis to 16,000 cedis was so high for members.

Nii Abeo-Kyerekuandah said previously, it cost a member who decides to do hook and line fishing 1.3 million cedis but with the increase it now costs 3.5 million cedis.

He said there was the need to streamline the administration of the premix fuel to ensure its judicious use to bring sanity into the industry.

He said Pair Trawling and politics were posing additional threats to the industry.

Flight Lieutenant Miltiades Tackey (RTD), President of the National Fishers Association of Ghana (NAFAG), called for continued collaboration between members.

He advised members to stop unnecessary rivalry and work as a team to develop the industry and called on members to send their children to school.