...in Protest Against 700% Hike in Vessel Licence Fee
UNLESS AN immediate step is taken to arrest the situation, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) will wake up one morning to find the navigational channel to the Tema ports, both fishing and main, blocked.
This will be done by wooden and industrial fishing vessels in protest against an astronomical increase of over 700% of annual vessel ownership license fees.
Our investigation revealed that fishermen from Tema, Winneba, Elmina, Cape Coast and Sekondi-Takoradi have resolved to apply this method as the last option if the government does not come to their aid and rather nails the coffin on the dying fishing industry.
The fishermen's intended action stemmed from a letter the Acting Director of Fisheries, Miss Emelia R. Annan, sent to all fishing companies.
According to the letter dated September 28, 2001, captioned "New Rates of Fisheries Licence Fees," Miss Annan stated in part that "we have been directed by the Honourable Minister of State for Fisheries to bring to your notice that new rates of fishing licence fees effective January 1, 2002."
The new rates span across the various types of vessels from Trawlers, Shrimpers, Tuna Vessels and Inshore Carriers.
Presently, a trawler of 201-300 tons pays ?3,600,000 annually while the same vessel owners pay ?900,000 quarterly, but with the revised fee, the same vessel attracts ?21,564,000 and ?5,400,000 annually and quarterly respectively.
Information gathered from the main fishing communities from Aflao to Axim indicates that already burdened with high fuel prices, annual vessel survey and other safety charges, operators of the industry want the government to be a little sensitive to their plight.
As a demonstration of how insolvent the industry has become, aside of the numerous laid-up vessels whose conditions compelled the GPHA to dump some of them, two vessels have sunk at the fishing harbour. They are 'God's Power' and 'MV Bani.'
This is because their owners can not send them for maintenance, with the GIHOC Boatyard sold to a private developer.
The charges at the drydock are also too high for boat owners, hence they leave the boats to deteriorate.
An enquiry at the Tema Fishing Harbor showed that about a few of the vessels cannot go to sea either because they are not seaworthy or can not be prepared in terms of fuel and food for crews.
Even when they do go, the possibility of going for their catch is slim, since there is no reconnaissance boat to give directions of fish movement.
The implication is that with the little fuel available, the vessels wander at sea in search of fish.
The country's research vessel 'MV Kakadiamah' which is supposed to give information on locations of fish to fishermen was neglected and is now going to be scrapped.
Unfortunately, Ms. Emelia was directly in charge of that unit which supervised the demise of the research vessel, a donation from the Japanese government.
Further enquiries disclosed that the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), represented the Fisheries Sector Minister, Hon. Ishmael Ashietey, at a meeting with representatives of the various fishermen, last Friday.
The said meeting was to explain a World Bank suggestion to increase vessel owners' licence fees.
