Industry players in Ghana’s fisheries sector have welcomed the government’s decision to settle outstanding premix fuel under-recoveries owed to Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs), describing the move as a necessary step towards restoring supply, enforcing subsidised prices and easing pressure on fishing communities.

The government recently paid GH¢115.9 million in accumulated under-recoveries, a move officials say was intended to ease liquidity constraints for BDCs and improve the flow of premix fuel nationwide. The payment has drawn reactions from key stakeholders, many of whom link long-standing shortages directly to unpaid arrears.

President of the Canoe and Gear Owners Association of Ghana, Nana Kweigya, said fisherfolk are already noticing changes, particularly in pricing and supply enforcement.

“Our priority is availability and affordability,” he said. “When supply declined, the Administrator explained that the problem stemmed from accumulated under-recoveries with the BDCs. Now that the government has addressed it, we are seeing some increase in supply, and the price per gallon has come down.”

He added that enforcement of the subsidised premix price appears to be improving.

Read Also: President Mahama clears GH¢115.9m premix arrears as fisherfolk report early gains, call for sustained access

“Over the years, there were disparities between what the government announced and what was sold at the pumps. We have observed that the Secretariat has undergone significant change. If the government has paid, that will give us increased access to premix fuel, which is good news for us.”

Similarly, President of the Canoe and Fishermen Council, Nana Joojo, said clearing the arrears would strengthen BDCs’ capacity to supply premix fuel, though he cautioned that access challenges remain.

“It means the BDCs will now have the capacity to produce the full haul,” he noted. “We know the oil industry is capital-intensive, and fishermen need access to premix every day. This is a step in the right direction because the shortages were linked to these debts, but for now, access to premix is still a problem.”

From inland fishing communities, the President of the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council and its women’s wing, Jacob Kabore Tetteh Ageke, described the payment as “very positive” while appealing for improvements in distribution.

“Our lives on inland waters are woven around premix,” he said. “Healthcare, funerals, and emergencies all depend on outboard motors. We say thank you and pray that distribution returns to normal. Even though the government is doing well, we are still facing difficulties.”

He also called on tanker drivers to reduce siphoning, stressing that leakages undermine the benefits of government intervention.

“We plead with tanker drivers to stop siphoning. We thank the President for this step.”

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture says the payment of under-recoveries was deliberately pursued to ensure accountability. The Minister, Emelia Arthur, has previously indicated that arrears were a major factor behind premix shortages and price distortions, and that clearing them was essential to restoring confidence in the system.

Industry players say that while the payment has addressed a key bottleneck, sustained monitoring, improved distribution and strict enforcement of subsidised prices will be crucial to ensuring the benefits reach genuine fisherfolk across coastal and inland communities.