Newly-appointed Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has vowed to recover the unaccounted-for 53 percent premix fuel profit derived from sales in the last eight years.
She has expressed readiness to track down and retrieve the 53 percent of premix fuel profit allocated for developing fishing communities – emphasising that the money ought to be used for its intended purposes.
In fact, the National Premix Fuel Committee (NPFC) Regulations, 2016 (L. I. 2233) instructs the Landing Beach Committee (LBC) to undertake developmental projects within the community using profits from the sale of premix fuel – of which 53 percent is allocated for community development.
Madam Emelia Arthur notes that when premix is sold and there is a profit, 47 percent goes to the Landing Beach Committee but the remaining 53 percent is for community development.
“We will ensure that MPs and DCs account for the 53 percent. In the same vein, all those who sold premix eight years ago and have not accounted for it… we will go after them,” she indicated.
This was disclosed during Norway’s Minister of International Development Asmund Grøver Aukrust’s visit to the Tema Canoe Landing Site recently. Mr. Aukrust acknowledged the fishing sector’s contribution to job creation and building societies, but lamented human activities that threaten the ocean – urging fishermen to preserve it for future generations.
Meanwhile, the Minister reiterated that there will be no closed season for artisanal fishermen – which might be of great benefit to them, since depriving one of one’s livelihood for a whole month does take a toll.
Fisherfolk continuously express concern about the bureaucratic barriers hindering fair access to subsidised fuel, which is crucial for their operations. This issue has been a longstanding challenge for many fishing communities across Ghana.
By addressing long-standing challenges such as premix fuel distribution issues and investing in infrastructure like mini-harbours, authorities hope to not only sustain but also grow this vital economic sector over time.
Despite significant expenditure on the premix fuel subsidy programme, it has failed to improve the welfare of fishing communities – with reports of dwindling catches, income and hazardous working conditions.
The programme has been plagued by diversion of premix fuel into other markets, overpricing and hoarding, benefitting cartels and political cronies at the country’s expense.
