-As fuel mafias hijack supply process**

*TODAY CAN** confirm an acute shortage of premix fuel in some fishing communities especially in the Central and Western regions of the country for the past two weeks.*

This shortage, the paper gathers is due to the action of entrenched members of the Premix distribution committee who are predominately aligned to the ruling party.

Sources hint that these members of the distribution committee defy distribution arrangements, divert premix products and turn themselves into middle men for their cronies.

It was again disclosed that fisher folks have to form long queues each day or travel miles in search of Premix fuel to run their businesses.

With the bumper fishing season in full force, these disgruntled fisher-folk are ruing their avoidable losses due to their inability to purchase premix fuel.

Our investigations revealed that most fishing areas in the Western region-beginning from Shama Ahanta, Ahanta West and the Nzema East Municipality where about half of the population was predominately into fishing are the worst affected.

Some of these fisher-folk told this reporter that their situation is worsened because government seems to be giving deaf ear to their plight.

What angers some of the affected fishermen who pleaded anonymity is that some members of the premix committee were not even canoe owners in their respective communities and could therefore not have their interest at heart save their parochial interest.

They argued that, those who were not owners of canoes are served first at the distribution point whilst they (canoe owners) are left with the crumbs.

The aggrieved fishermen told this paper that the distribution committee also sold the premix fuel to them at exorbitant prices; ranging between GH¢ 450-700 which is twice the normal price.

Egya Kojo, one of the aggrieved fishermen who fell short of mentioning names disclosed that some of the distribution committee members demand at least a pan of fish when they (fishermen) return from the high seas.

He lamented that the acts of the distribution members eventually makes them spend huge amounts-at least GH¢400 to enable them purchase a barrel of premix fuel.

Authorities were therefore implored to immediately put in place measures that would curtail these practices which they relayed has been a perennial occurrence.