Story by: Ishmael Barfi
For efficiency and equity distribution of premix fuel, the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (NICFC) has called on government to allow the Council to be in charge of the distribution of the premix fuel.
This, according to the Council would be devoid of politics, favoritism and discrimination but distributed in a fair and transparent manner to its members.
“If it is given to party Chairmen, through protocols, DCEs, and MPs, politics would set in and the very people whose interest the government want to serve, are not going to benefit from it”, the Council bemoaned.
The appeal was made by the President of the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (NICFC) Mr. Jacob Kabore Tetteh Ageke during an interview at the Council Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Thursday, 17th February, 2022 in Accra.
Premix Fuel: ‘ We will ensure efficiency & Equity Distribution’- NICFC to Gov’t
Mr. Tetteh Ageke revealed that, currently, the Council is made up of 1,600 Communities along the Volta Lake, 32 Districts in 8 regions with over 80,000 fishermen.
“With this membership base, distribution of the premix fuel would be done equitably that, no member would complain”, he stressed.
Meanwhile the Council is appealing to government, the Sector Minister Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson to increase a gallon of the premix fuel from Gh¢7.50 Gh¢10.00 to enable them the National Inland Canoe Council to also have a small margin to be able to solve some of our problems.
Speaking further, he said, the increment of the premix fuel from its current price Gh¢7.50 toGh¢10.00 would be financially good to the Council stressing that, looking at the membership base, the revenue that would come as a result of the margin aid the Council to embark on numerous projects and activities that would boost and enhance the skills, capacity of its members.
Premix Fuel: ‘ We will ensure efficiency & Equity Distribution’- NICFC to Gov’t
“So, the premix fuel should be handed over to us because in some countries, everything relating to fishing is handed over to key major Associations and Councils for it’s execution and implementation.
Citing “Even if you want to buy net and other tools, you go through the Association to buy which promotes equity, transparency and unity”.
On distribution of the premix fuel, the National Inland Canoe Council President noted the issue of diversion, black market as well as protocol hacking among others would be reduced by 95% if government and the Sector Minister agrees to their request, thus allowing the Council to distribute the premix fuel.
According to Mr.Kabore, over the years, premix issue have been a problem to them as fishermen especially, those along the Volta Lake as it is their life line.
He was of the view that, the ongoing digitalization of the premix fuel as the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, called for a consultative dialogue on it was with one a accord, agreed that the premix should be automated.
Premix Fuel: ‘ We will ensure efficiency & Equity Distribution’- NICFC to Gov’t
Mr. Tetteh Ageke believes that, Gh 2.50 increment they are calling for on the premix fuel will aid them to tackle numerous challenges facing the Council citing a modern markets for the inland sector, safety of members on the Volta lake among others.
Stressing that, “We don’t want the government to go and buy outboard motors and nets for us; we want to have money to be able to buy our own outboard motors and nets to distribute to our members along the lake”.
Adding “We also want to be able to organize something in the form of loan to cushion our members because we want to invest into the welfare of members especially the aged ones thus our fathers who are not fishing anymore”.
As a result of that, he hinted of the Council putting measures in place to institute retirement package for them revealing that, currently there is no retirement package for old aged fishermen and mongers, hence the time has come to have such packages in place.
Speaking to some members of the Council at its Annual General Meeting, they where in support of the President call for the increment of the premix fuel with the hope that, the margins would help the Council to initiate projects that would improve their sector.
The much touted initiative is the modern markets for inland fishing in all the 32 districts.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
