Minister pledges to halt diversion of pre-mix fuel

Elmina, Nov.28, GNA- The Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah on Tuesday, gave the assurance that her ministry, would soon come out with "pragmatic measures" to help curb the diversion of the pre-mix fuel. She urged fishermen to be vigilant and help arrest unscrupulous tanker drivers engaged in such deals adding that, this was imperative, as last year alone, the government spent 89 billion cedis in subsidizing the fuel for fishermen.

Mrs. Asmah, who announced this when she addressed an emergency meeting of the Edina traditional council at Elmina, also promised to take "a critical look and find a lasting solution" to curb the mounting tension in the town, as a result of the suspension of Nana Jojo Solomon, the local pre-mix committee chairman.

Nana Solomon, was recently suspended by the Central Regional Coordinating Council for allegedly failing to account for an amount of 250 million cedis being profits accrued from the sale of the fuel between June 2004 and October 3 this year.

She, in this regard, called on the people to exercise restraint and allow peace to prevail.

The Minister announced that the ministry has secured 200 million dollars from the government of China for the construction of three fishing harbours at Shama, Elmina and Teshie, in the Western, Central and Greater Accra regions respectively.

She said the funds were "ready" and that feasibility studies and designs of the harbours were being undertaken and drawn up and that construction would start immediately the feasibility studies were completed.

She said plans were also far advanced for the provision of cold storage facilities and fish processing plants in areas like Moree, Nyanyano, Senya -Bereku and Takoradi, to enhance the work of fishermen. For his part, Nana Kodwo Condua VI, Omanhene of Edina traditional area, was also unhappy about the mounting tension in the area due to the suspension of Nana Solomon and echoed the need for unity in the area, for development.

He lauded the government for undertaking projects like dredging of the Benya lagoon, upgrading of the Edinaman secondary school into a model school, the on-going rehabilitation of houses of historical importance in the town and the intended construction of the fishing harbour.

He therefore, expressed concern about what he said was the tendency of some personalities such as district chief executives, and members of parliament, and ministers of state, to either use the name of the President or the chief of staff to make pronouncements "contrary to the official government policy". The Omanhene repeated appeals to all parents to invest in the education of their children and urged them to contribute towards an education endowment fund would be launched for the area next year. Six newly installed chiefs in the area were introduced at the meeting.