The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA) and the National Premix Secretariat have announced a sweeping set of reforms to protect the 53 per cent Community Development Fund (CDF), following the release of an audit report that exposed severe financial and governance lapses in its management by some Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) between 2017 and 2024.

The audit revealed widespread failures in accounting, non-compliance with approved distribution formulas, and unauthorised use of funds, exposing deep-rooted institutional weaknesses in managing community premix resources.

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture highlighted that the decision to make the findings public demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and reform. “We cannot build a sustainable premix system without confronting the realities of the past,” she said. “This government has chosen transparency and reform over silence because the future of fisherfolk's livelihoods depends on it.”

The Minister stressed that the shortfall of GH₵13,753,300.00 million could have been used for much-needed projects such as drainage systems, sanitation facilities, schools, and infrastructure to support fishing communities, directly contributing to SDGs related to poverty alleviation, education, and clean water and sanitation. This loss represents a huge setback for development, particularly in underdeveloped coastal areas, where these resources were vital for improving living conditions.

Recovery efforts have already commenced, and new safeguards are being implemented to prevent a recurrence of these issues. Mr Ebow Mensah, the Administrator of the National Premix Secretariat, explained that the audit provides a clear roadmap for action. “Transparency strengthens enforcement,” Mr Mensah said. “By making these findings public, we have empowered ourselves to act decisively and fairly.” He confirmed that recovery processes are underway, with serious cases referred for further action, and governance structures at the landing-beach level are being restructured to tighten financial controls and improve oversight.

In response to the audit findings, MoFA is introducing a Community Accountability Framework to ensure the proper management of CDF funds at the local level. The framework will include mandatory reporting, clearer signatory rules, improved financial training for LBC executives, and stricter compliance monitoring. Mr Mensah also announced that starting in February 2026, the government will roll out a nationwide CDF protection system linked to the Premix Fuel Automation Programme to enhance transparency, monitoring, and accountability.

“These reforms mark a new chapter for the premix system,” Mr Mensah added. “Our focus is on protecting fisherfolk, recovering public funds, and ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.”

The Secretariat emphasised that the combination of transparency, recovery, and reform is positioning the premix program on a stronger, more sustainable foundation, reinforcing its critical role in supporting the livelihoods of fisherfolk and driving community development in coastal areas across the country.

This reform initiative aims to prevent future losses and ensure that the funds designated for community development are used effectively, bringing long-term benefits to fishing communities, reducing poverty, and fostering economic growth in line with the government’s commitment to the SDGs.