Cape Coast, Jan. 17, GNA- The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur on Wednesday called on the executives of the local premix committees in the region to endeavour to make judicious use of the profit accrued from the sale of the product to enhance the living conditions of the beneficiary communities. He said the various committees were allowed to reserve part of the profit from the sale of the fuel to enable them to undertake development projects in the fishing communities, since the government alone could not do it.
Nana Arthur made the call at the end of year get-together, dubbed "fishermen Assembly" for fishermen in Cape Coast. In attendance were chief fishermen and members of the pre-mix committees, who were feted by the regional pre-mix committee during, which they took turns to ask questions concerning the fishing industry. The Minister said considering the importance of Ghana 2008, it was imperative for all to actively participate in it, and asked each local pre-mix committee chairman to purchase a television set for their landing bays to enable the fishermen to watch the tournament even at the beach.
He however warned that any chairman who fails to purchase the T.V set would be sanctioned and asked that all receipts covering the purchases should be forwarded to the regional pre-mix committee. Nana Arthur asked them to desist from using their canoes and boats for drug trafficking and stressed that anyone caught in the act would be made to face the full rigours of the law. He also urged those who were given loans to buy outboard motors since 2003 to endeavour to pay back to enable others to also benefit, and assured them that everything would be done to control the activities of "paired trawlers". On Ghana 2008, he advised them to help keep the beaches clean stressing that teams like Mali and Benin would be lodging at Elmina beach resort and may be visiting some tourist's sites including the castles. The Minister also reminded them of the general election in December and asked those who have not yet registered to do so when the register is opened in March. The Minister answered questions ranging from the supply of premix, activities of paired trawlers, sale of outboard motors and fishing with lights among others. Most of them were unhappy about the activities of "paired trawlers", stressing that it was jeopardizing their businesses and called for immediate action to address the situation. 17 Jan. 08
