Ministry of Fisheries assists fishermen

Accra, June 20, GNA - The Ministry of Fisheries through the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday presented 400 outboard motors valued at about 10 billion cedis for distribution to fishermen. The Government has also made available five billion cedis to construct Modern Chorkor Smokers for 14 fishing communities nationwide. The presentation of the outboard motors to the Ministry was done under the Micro-Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC).

It marks the third phase of the Work and Pay Equipment and Fishing Gear Scheme, which has already benefited 200 fishing groups nationwide. Mr Edward Boakye-Agyeman, Managing Director of ADB, said at the presentation in Accra that the Ministry was collaborating with the Bank to extend credit to the fishing sub-sector through the import and supply of the fishing equipment.

He said farmers and fishermen had been the core customers of the Bank for many years, adding that the bank had extended credit-in-kind to the fishing sub-sector through the supply of fishing inputs such as outboard motors, marine engines and fishing nets.

"It is worth noting that our relationship with the fishermen has been attendant with a high default rate. This has put much strain on the Bank and hampered the availability of credit to the sub-sector." Mr Boakye-Agyemang expressed the hope that the collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and MASLOC would revive the relationship between the bank and the fishing community.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minster for Fisheries, said the assistance provided by government attested to its recognition of the hard work of fishermen.

She said little attention had been paid to the fishing industry, hence its low growth and limited contribution to the development of the country.

She said the objective of the scheme was to help the industry by making it possible for fishers to obtain credit facilities for fishing gear, adding that another scheme to refurbish old canoes with fibreglass and encourage fishers to acquire modern fishing canoes had been planned by the Ministry.

Mrs Asmah said funds had been secured to construct six cold stores with blast freezers and ice-making machines in six fishing communities across the country.

"Each cold store would also be provided with a van to carry out fishing business in the communities."

The Minister said 250 people had been trained nationwide in fish farming at a cost of 400 million cedis and the trainees were expected to serve as trainers in other communities.

She said the Ministry was currently collaborating with the Minerals and Mining Commission to turn all disused mine pits into fishponds for the communities.

Each outboard motor was 23.2 million cedis with beneficiaries required to deposit five million cedis to the Bank and pay the rest by instalment over a period of one year. She urged the banking community to support the fishing industry since fishers had the means of expanding the banking business if the right atmosphere was created for them. 20 June 06