The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) has announced plans to open approximately 20 automated premix fuel outlets across Ghana by December, as part of efforts to address discrepancies in the premix fuel distribution chain. The move, spearheaded by the sector minister, Hon.Mavis Hawa Koomson, aims to curb issues such as middlemen, hoarding, and corruption in the premix supply chain.
During a media briefing at the 2023 fishing closed season stakeholder engagement in Accra, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture revealed that the majority of the sites, about 20 in total, would be completed and operational by the end of the year, dispensing fuel to fishermen. Currently, premix fuel is subsidized by the government to reduce costs for fishermen by 70 percent, but only a small portion of the subsidies actually reaches them due to illegal activities in the supply chain, as highlighted by the Environment for Development (EfD), a global network for environmental research.
she explained that automating the premix fuel supply system through the establishment of automated outlets is expected to block loopholes and deter culprits from hoarding the commodity, thereby ensuring a more transparent and efficient distribution process.
The minister also commented on the implementation of the 2023 fishing closed season, stating that it is part of a series of strategies aimed at recovering fish stocks and promoting sustainable management of Ghana’s fisheries resources. She emphasized that the closed season would be observed during the same period of July and August as in previous years, as this is the period of upwelling, which is the optimal time for fish spawning.
Ghana’s fisheries sector has been facing challenges such as declining fish stocks, climate change impacts, illegal fishing, and overfishing, as highlighted by MoFAD. The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) estimates that Ghana loses over US$200 million annually to illegal fishing, which remains a persistent issue. The fishing industry is a significant contributor to Ghana’s economy, generating over US$500 million annually and employing over 3 million people along the value chain, as noted by MoFAD.
BY:AGRIWATCH REPORTER
