MP dares Fisheries Ministry over $53.8m World Bank money

The Member of Parliament for Tema East, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has questioned the whereabouts of 53.8 million US dollars the World Bank advanced to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to improve the fisheries sub-sector.

The MP made the claim when he joined colleagues 'Temamei' to mark the Kpelejo festival at Tema New Town.

He said he recently attempted to raise concerns about the money given to the ministry to improve the sector on the floor of Parliament but was not allowed.

The money according to the NPP legislator was meant to rehabilitate the boat yard at the Tema Fishing Harbour to provide a space for the rehabilitation of worn-out boats as well as introduce construction of fibre glass boats which are safer than the current ones in use.

Titus Glover said the money was targeted at assisting the ministry to purchase research vessels which will be used to locate fishes to avoid the current situation where fisher folks comb various depths of the sea without catching a single fish, plunging them into huge fuel and other logistical costs.

He was worried that the yard is yet to be put in order while the fishermen continually suffer in search for fish on their expeditions and return home with empty boats. This, he said makes it difficult for the fishermen to take care of their families, particularly their children's school needs. The situation according to him will only contribute to lawlessness as well thievery and robbery in the area.

Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover seized the opportunity to plead with the fishermen to desist from light and other illegal methods of fishing which depletes the fish stock and as result drive them away from the country's territorial waters. He also asked them to embrace modern methods of fishing to benefit them in their expeditions.