FIFNAA Debunks Nana Akufo-Addo Sponsorship Claim

The Fishermen Friends of Nana Akufo-Addo wish to state categorically that Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP flagbearer for 2012, has not and is not sponsoring the activities of FIFNAA. The Fishermen Friends of Nana Akufo-Addo is an association of fishermen who have bought into the vision of Nana Addo. This association was also formed based on the failed promises that President Atta-Mills made to the fisher folks in 2008.

In 2008, the then candidate Mills made all sort of promises to the fisher folks and said that he was the best candidate to solve the fishing problems because he was coming from the coast and accused then President Kufuor of neglecting the fishing industry and rather building bigger cold stores in his hometown Kumasi because he (Kufuor) was not from the coast.

It is important to place on record that the situation of the fishing industry has turned to worse under President Mills and even registering negative growth. Under President Kufuor, fishermen had a full ministry which attended solely to the problems of fisheries. Under President Mills, who hails from the coast, the fisheries ministry is no more. Also, the cost of fishing has increased astronomically. A gallon of premix was selling for about GH¢1.8 in January, 2009 but now selling for an average price of GH¢2.7. An outboard motor which cost GH¢2,950 in January, 2009 is now selling for GH¢5,400. The cost of living of fisher folks has risen to an unbearable limit amidst dwindling fortunes of the fishing industry under the presidency of OFARNYI KWAGYA II Atta Mills.
Listening to Nana Addo for some time, we have seen in him some leadership qualities, especially trustworthiness, which are lacking in the current leadership we have in Ghana.

It is in the light of the reasons cited above that FIFNAA came into being. As members of FIFNAA, we have been funding the activities of FIFNAA from our own meagre resources. Neither Nana Akufo-Addo nor the NPP has sponsored any programme or activity of FIFNAA. Therefore, the claim by a so-called fishermen group in Moree that Nana Addo is sponsoring FIFNAA is a total fabrication which should be treated with the contempt that it deserves.
We would like to seize this opportunity to remind the President that the problems of fishing such as pair-trawling, premix shortages resulting in ‘black marketing’ of premix at a very exorbitant price of GH¢4.5 per gallon in some fishing communities amongst others still persist.
Also, former President Kufuor secured funding for the construction of landing beaches and cold stores along the coast in some selected fishing communities in the country. Sods were even cut for these projects in 2008. We are urging the President to continue with those projects and complete them.
Signed

Nana Kofi Egyir
(CHAIRMAN)
Tel:0244187515
Kobina Aggrey (PRO)
Tel:0543057368

Kobina Badu (DEPUTY PRO)
Tel: 0247952777