Funeral for a Whale held at Apam

Apam (CR), Aug 10, GNA - Ten fishing communities along the eastern coast of the Central Region on Tuesday, held a funeral for a Whale, which was washed ashore at Apam.

A structure was constructed at the shore to house the skeleton. Fishermen from Otuam, Dago, Mumford, Apam, Abrekum, Mankoadze, Winneba, Senya-Bere ku, Gomoa Fetteh and Nyanyano contributed 500,000 cedis each towards the funeral.


Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Kobena Caiquo, Chief Fisherman of Apam, said fishermen regarded the Whale, the largest sea mammal as their protector during expeditions and were given fitting burial rites whenever they were washed ashore.


He said a bumper-fishing season normally followed such rites along the area the mammal was washed ashore.

The Chief Fisherman explained that this year's season had not been encouraging because fishermen had adopted methods, which depleted marine resources and appealed to them to change their attitude to enjoy an all year round fishing.


"The sea is our main source of employment so if we destroy it we do so at our own risk," Nana Caiquo stated.