The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has announced sweeping reforms to revamp Ghana’s inland fisheries sector and ensure fair distribution of pre-mix fuel profits for community development.

She made these declarations as the Guest of Honour at the commissioning of a newly built primary school with auxiliary facilities at CK Kope in the Biakoye District.

Ms. Arthur reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to balancing attention across all fisheries sectors, pledging to uplift inland fisheries and aquaculture, which have long been overshadowed by marine and coastal sectors.

"I stand here today as the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, saying to you inland fishers that we will improve the inland fisheries sub-sector," she assured.

Addressing concerns raised by the President of the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council, about the need for more engagement with inland fisherfolk, Ms. Arthur clarified that although she was only three weeks into her role, she had already met with him in her office and spoken with him multiple times over the phone.

"If this is not engagement, then I don't know what engagement is," she stated.

In a bold move to restructure pre-mix fuel distribution, Ms. Arthur announced the abolition of regional, district, and zonal pre-mix coordinators, a decision aimed at eliminating middlemen and ensuring direct delivery of pre-mix fuel to fisherfolk.

“We have abolished and revoked the appointment of regional, district, and zonal pre-mix coordinators. Nothing like that will exist from henceforth,” she declared.

Under the new system, pre-mix fuel will be transported directly from the Tema Oil Refinery to landing beach committees without passing through intermediaries.

This, she explained, would prevent diversion, reduce corruption, and ensure that fisherfolk receive their subsidized fuel promptly.

The Minister outlined the new composition of inland landing beach committees, which will consist of eight members, including the headman (chairperson), a representative of transport owners, one fisher nominated by the ministry, a representative of fishers, a representative of fishmongers, the District Chief Executive’s representative, secretary, and a pump attendant.

She emphasised that these committees would be fully accountable to their respective fishing communities, as their members would represent the broader fisher groups.

“For inland landing beaches, there will be eight members, and for coastal, seven members. These committees will be responsible for selling the pre-mix and ensuring transparency in profit distribution,” she explained.

Ms. Arthur provided a clear breakdown of how profits from pre-mix sales would be shared, ensuring that communities directly benefit from the proceeds.

She noted that 47 per cent of the profit will go to the landing beach committee, representing the fishers' collective interests, 53 per cent of the profit will be reserved for community development projects.

The Minister cited examples of how communities have used their 53 per cent share in the past to fund crucial projects such as schools, CHPS compounds, and scholarships for children.

She also announced that her ministry would audit pre-mix sales from the last eight years to ensure that communities had received their fair share of profits.

“In the last eight years, all pre-mix sold will be accounted for, and communities must explain how they used the 53% meant for development. Resetting Ghana also means resetting the fisheries sector,” she stressed.

In response to a petition from the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council, Ms. Arthur announced plans for a dedicated fish market in Accra for inland fishmongers.

She acknowledged that many inland fisherwomen transport fish to Accra for sale but lack a centralized market for their business.

“The women have told me that they found a piece of land somewhere in Accra. I have engaged the Minister for Gender and the Greater Accra Regional Minister—both women—and they are ready to assist my ministry in securing this land to build a market,” she said.