Accra, June 12, GNA - Government on Friday announced measures to regulate the allocation, distribution and sale of premix fuel to ensure that fishermen derived maximum benefits from their labour. The National Premix Committee has been reconstituted while Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been streamlined as part of the measures.

Addressing journalists in Accra Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, said the government was facilitating the formation of Landing Beach Committee (LBC) to improve marketing of premix fuel. He said any irregularity observed in the premix fuel administration would be thoroughly investigated and culprits lawfully dealt with.

"The original idea of the allocation, distribution and sale of premix fuel was to ensure the timely availability of the product to fishermen and to use the benefits from the sales to develop their communities," he said.

He expressed regret that over the past eight years the original idea had been filled with corruption in the administration of premix fuel.

Mr Ahwoi described as worrisome the proliferation of premix fuel sale outlets owned by individuals rather than fishermen and the adulteration of regular petrol with premix fuel by some fuel stations. On the issue of ensuring that the 2002 Fisheries Act 625 was enforced, he announced that pair trawling had been banned. He also stressed fishing using under sized mesh nets, carbide, dynamite and light was forbidden. Mr. Ahwoi urged all Ministries, Municipal and District Chief Executives to ensure that all the LBCs be constituted and function in their various areas of operations. 12 June 09