Hawa Koomson
THE MINISTRY of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is rolling out machines to automate the sale of premix fuel as part of measures to enhance service delivery and safety.
Mavis Hawa Koomson, the sector minister, said plans are far advanced to install automated premix fuel dispensing units across landing beaches in the country. These would sell to fishers who have smart cards to access the pumps.
“This will weed out smugglers and hoarding activities, and enhance fishers’ access to the fuel,” the minister told Parliament yesterday, while answering questions on the floor.
Mrs. Koomson said the ministry was also implementing the “Aquaculture for Food and Jobs programme” under which educational and security institutions, distressed fish farmers, and youth groups are supported to establish and operate aquaculture farms.
She urged interested youth groups and individuals to contact the regional fisheries offices for the application procedure and other formalities.
According to her, on approval, officers would conduct an inspection of the proposed site to determine the appropriate holding facility, fishing input support (fingerlings and fish feed) and extension services.
Mrs. Koomson continued that the ministry, through the Fisheries Commission, is currently undertaking a canoe frame survey to register operational canoes and issue canoe identification cards.
“The co-management policy for the fisheries sector would also be implemented across inland fishing communities around the Volta Lake as part of measures to enhance fisheries management among resource users.
“The Fisheries Scientific Survey Division is leading activities for inland fisheries data collection for policy decisions,” she stated and added that the Ministry would soon establish a Monitoring Control and Surveillance Centre (MCSC) at Kpando Torkor to enforce compliance with fisheries regulations.
BY Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House