Canopies and plastic chairs destroyed by the angry fishermen.
Some fisher folks in Ada in the Greater Accra Region suspected to be engaged in illegal fishing have disrupted a ceremony to inaugurate pilot Fisheries Watch Volunteer Groups for the region.
The fisher folks muddled the canopies and plastic chairs, destroyed the public address system and verbally assaulted the participants in the presence of the traditional authorities and some government officials such as the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye.
Security personnel at the event had a hectic time controlling the aggrieved fisher folks for the fisheries watch volunteers to be inaugurated at Otrokpo in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region by the Minister.
The fishermen accused the authorities of not seeking their consent before enacting the illegal fishing law and forming the fisheries watch volunteers to monitor fishing activities which would directly affect their work.
They also blamed the Chief fishermen in the community of backing the fisheries law without taking the consequences into consideration.
The local fishermen said they were unhappy with government’s efforts at combating illegal fishing in Ghana.
Ms. Afoley Quaye, who managed to calm down tempers, expressed surprise about the action of the fisher folks, explaining that the mandate of the fisheries watch volunteers include educating and creating awareness on illegal fishing activities, reporting infractions of the fisheries law and serving as witnesses in prosecution, embarking on sea and land patrols, as well as ensuring the registration of canoes.
She advised members to be courageous in carrying out their mandate according to the guidelines in the operational manual and the laws of Ghana.
The Minister told the fishing communities that the rampant use of unauthorized monofilament nets, light fishing, as well as the use of poisonous substances in fishing had led to the decline in the fish stock.
“We should see to the inauguration of the fisheries watch volunteers in over 300 landing communities to support the law enforcement before the situation gets out of control.”
The minister explained that the inauguration of the watch volunteers would benefit the fishermen and the state.
The group, made up of 25 members from each fishing community in the region, would work with the Fisheries Enforcement Unit, Marine Police, Ghana Navy, Judiciary and other agencies to combat illegal fishing.
The watch volunteers will monitor activities of the foreign vessels and check light fishing, chemical, undersize mesh, unapproved net illegal transshipment of fish, oil bunkering, piracy, human trafficking and child labour.
Police officers ensuring sanity prevail for the progress of the inauguration.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema