Fishing activities in Akateng a fishing community in the Upper Manya Krobo in Eastern Region has been crippled by a long shortage of Premix fuel.
Akateng, once a vibrant fishing community with brisk fishing activities is however collapsing due to a long shortage of Premix fuel.
Fishers have for the past four years been battling premix fuel shortage in the community as premix landing committees in charge of distribution have been reduced from eleven (11) to five (5) but with erratic supply.
The situation has led to hoarding and smuggling by a few individuals in charge.
Some fishers out of desperation have resorted to producing their premix fuel by mixing petrol and engine oil to power their canoes.
The fishers say the situation is affecting them since fishing is their source of livelihood.
Happy Kortey, a fishmonger is unhappy about the development.
She says the fishing business has been seriously affected hence appealing to the government to increase the distribution outlets with frequent supply.
“Now we are not getting fish to buy anymore because the fishermen say they don’t get premix fuel. So we are suffering, the government should come you our aide”
Two weeks ago, the Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo, Bismark Tetteh Nyarko raised the suffering of fishers on the floor of Parliament which the Minister of Fisheries Hawa Koomson responded that the ministry is planning to install automated pumps for only fishers with cards to access the premix fuel to curb hoarding and smuggling to make premix fuel available.
However, the MP Bismark Tetteh Nyarko said the Minister is detached from reality on the ground.
He said the situation is dire, collapsing the local economy and ruining homes whose sources of livelihood depended on fishing hence urgent intervention is needed.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
