The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture has paid more than GH¢174 million to premix fuel suppliers to clear legacy under-recovery debts.
The payments are intended to restore supplier confidence, improve the stability of premix fuel distribution and support reforms in the fisheries sector.
Speaking at the Ministry’s Mid-Year Media Engagement in Accra, Madam Emelia Arthur, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, said GH¢174,310,704.45 had been paid from total accruals of GH¢255,858,803.45, covering 2025 and January to May 2026.
She said GH¢156,911,773.18 was paid in 2025, clearing all outstanding obligations for that year, while GH¢17,398,931.27 was paid for January to May 2026, leaving an outstanding balance of GH¢81,548,099.00.
The Minister said the Government supplied 22.41 million litres of premix fuel to beneficiary fishing communities nationwide between January and June 2026.
“This represents an increase of more than 58 per cent compared with the same period in 2025 and more than 20 per cent above the corresponding period in 2024. This improvement reflects our determination to ensure that fishing communities have a more predictable and reliable supply of premix fuel,” she said.
Madam Arthur said the Ministry had strengthened oversight of Community Development Funds generated from premix fuel sales following concerns over their management.
She said audits and reconciliations covering about GH¢4.98 million had been completed in 42 of the country’s 60 fisheries districts by June, representing 70 per cent national coverage.
The exercise, the Minister said, identified delayed deposits, poor bookkeeping, unauthorised expenditure and other financial management weaknesses.
The Ministry had since organised bookkeeping and financial management training for Landing Beach Committees and other fisheries stakeholders.
“Technology is also playing an increasingly important role in our reforms. We are digitising Ghana’s premix fuel distribution system to improve transparency and reduce opportunities for manipulation,” she added.
Madam Arthur said 138 of the planned 157 automation sites had been completed and equipped, with 74 operational, including 24 commissioned during the first half of the year.
She said the National Premix Fuel Secretariat’s Premix Tracker and Dashboard had improved monitoring, accountability and decision-making across the supply chain.
