150 FISHERMEN BENEFIT FROM NETS (PAGE 14, DEC 29)

The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, has advised fishermen to emulate the example of the Elmina Premix Committee by ensuring transparency and accountability in all their dealings.
She also called on them to utilise profits from the sale of premix fuel for the benefit of their communities.
She was speaking at a ceremony where one hundred and fifty canoe fishermen from Elmina benefited from fishing nets valued at GH¢45,000.00 purchased with profit from sale of the premix fuel by the Elmina Premix Committee.
The committee also presented cloths to eight aged fishermen who had contributed towards the promotion of the fishing industry in Elmina.
The member of Parliament for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Dr J.S. Annan, advised the fishermen to put to good use the nets to compensate for the efforts of the committee.
A Deputy Minister of Agriculture in–charge of Fisheries, Nii Amassah Namoale, also advised the committee to invest part of their profit in educational funds for the youth in the area.
He said the government was focused on safeguarding the operations of canoe fishermen in the country.
At the ceremony in Elmina last Tuesday, the Secretary of the Elmina Premix Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Dauda, said the committee decided to present the nets to the fishermen in support of their efforts.
Alhaji Dauda said the profit was realised from the sale of premix fuel within six months of the committee’s operations.
He commended the government for the continued supply of premix fuel to support them in their operations.
The Chairman of the National Premix Committee, Mr Kwaku Nicol, said the government would continue to offer the necessary support and protection to canoe fishermen to sustain their livelihood.
He called on landing beach committees to ensure that fishermen derived maximum benefits from the sale of premix fuel in their communities.
The Committee in appreciation of President Mills’s support for fishermen in ensuring the supply of premix fuel and the measures he had taken to enhance their livelihood, bestowed on him the title of a chief fisherman, “Ofarnyi Kwegya Atta Mills” and presented him with a stool.