Fisherfolks in Keta Municipality of the Volta Region are calling on the government to effectively distribute premix fuel to all fishing communities to help speed up their work ahead of the Yuletide season.
They said the lack of effective and timely distribution of premix fuel has severely impacted their fishing activities, leading to low productivity which has affected their livelihoods.
Fisherman, Seth Seshieme at Dzelukope, a suburb of Keta, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, expressed frustration, stating that the last time they received premix fuel was in early November, and it was not enough to sustain their work and a further delay in distribution could hinder their works.
“We are appealing to corporate organisations, individuals, and the government in particular to help us get premix fuel on time to improve and boost our productivity,” he said.
He explained that many fisherfolks were forced to use the high cost of alternative fuels, such as a mixture of petrol and engine oil, which were significantly affecting their outputs.
He said a gallon of petrol and engine oil costs GH₵440 and GH₵170, or more respectively, which was unsustainable for many fishermen and appealed that the authorities should immediately address the situation before the fast-approaching Christmas season.
“The shortage of premix fuel has led to increased costs for fishermen; it is making it difficult for us to operate effectively. This has resulted in reduced fishing activities, affecting not only our income but also the overall food security in the Municipality. We are urging the authorities to address the issue and ensure a steady supply of premix fuel.
Another fisherman, Simon Gbedze, criticised the National Premix Committee and the local committee for their ineffective management of the premix fuel distribution and stated that the middlemen and hoarders were exploiting the situation and were selling the fuel at exorbitant prices which further exacerbate the problem.
He said the fishermen have been calling for stricter regulations and enforcement to curb these practices and pleaded that the government should take immediate action to address the premix fuel shortage.
GNA also gathered that some other fishing Associations such as the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) and others have been planning to engage the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFAD) and the Premix Fuel Secretariat to resolve the issue before the upcoming Yuletide.
It was also revealed that recent study uncovered that 91 per cent of fishers at various landing beaches along the coast in the region support removing the premix fuel subsidy, citing its ineffectiveness and irregular distribution while study also suggested redirecting the subsidy towards programmes that benefit fishing communities, such as capacity-building initiatives and sustainable fishing practices.
Some residents also urged the Fisheries Commission to acknowledge the challenges faced by the fishing industry in Keta and the surrounding communities and work effectively to improve the distribution of premix fuel on time.
They said that lack of proper distribution of premix fuel has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the fishermen but also the entire fishing industry and it was essential for the authorities to take immediate action to resolve the issue and ensure a steady supply of premix fuel to curb the plight of fishers.
The fishermen at Keta were hoping for a better fishing season and a more effective distribution of premix fuel in subsequent days to help improve the progress of their work.