The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has engaged with the Ghana Canoe Fisherman Council on issues bothering on the local fishing Industry.

The meeting which was held at the behest of the National Premix Fuel Secretariat gave an opportunity to the Ministry and fisherman present to discuss progress made in 2022 and how to consolidate on those in the year 2023.

The Ghana Canoe Fishermen Council proposed an upward adjustment in the ex-pump price of premix fuel as a measure of support to improve the supply of the product across the country and help resolve the issues of intermittent shortages. The fishers group also proposed a collaborative effort that will see it actively support the tracking of Premix Fuel being transported to Landing Beach.

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson (MP) commended the group for their show of support to the Ministry and promised that government was keen to do more for the Fisheries sector productivity in 2022.

She delivered updates on the progress of work on the ongoing automation of Premix Fuel supply, measures taken to guarantee the availability of premix fuel throughout the year and government renewed resolve to rid the fishing sector of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing activities (IUU fishing).

“I am happy to report that despite an admittedly difficult year 2022, we achieved remarkable progress on several fronts.

The on-going automation of Premix Fuel is gaining momentum and will revolutionize Premix Fuel supply when completed.

Similarly let me state that premix fuel supply this year will be sufficient to meet the needs of fishermen across the country.

Government has a keen interest in the progress of the fisheries sector and has tasked my ministry to work hard to consolidate the gains made in the sector in the last six (6) years”. She noted.

The sector minister announced that following sector wide consultations, the ex-pump price of premix fuel had been revived upwards from GHS2.29 to GHS5.66 per liter.

According to her, the increment was marginally short of what the Ghana Canoe Fishermen Council and others had proposed.

She however stated that the newly approved price was to help government absolve the shocks of global crude prices and ensure that the product is liberally available to all fishermen.

Acting President of the Ghana Canoe Fishermen Council, Jojo Solomon thanked the Ministry and the National Premix Fuel for their continued support for the fishing sector and applauded the new measures introduced by the Ministry.

According to him, the new measures were certain to put the sector on the path to Productivity and Prosperity this year.