Fishermen to hit the streets over premix shortage

Fishermen to hit streets over premix shortage

Fishermen across the country's coast are angry with government over the shortage of premix fuel and have threatened to hit the streets next month.

A spokesperson of the fishermen in Cape coast, Agya Mahama told Joy News correspondent, Richard Kojo Nyarko, they have not been supplied the fuel for over four months.

The situation, he said has adversely affected their business and are even more worried because this past four months is the season for a good catch.

“We are ready to demonstrate to tell the whole world we have a problem and need immediate solution to the problem,” he said adding the premix committee has not told them exactly what the problem is.

According to Kojo Nyarko, whose investigation took him to parts of the Central Coastline, there are 45 landing beaches in the Central Region but only seven of them have been supplied premix fuel, which is even inadequate, they say.

He said there are 375 canoes in Elmina with each receiving 75 gallons of fuel per week, but with the shortage, only 25 gallons per week are supplied.

The fishermen insist members of the Premix committee are trying to collapse their businesses and would not sit on the fence.

The situation in the Volta Region is not any better, if not worse. Agbeko Ben Cofie, also a Joy News correspondent says over 1000 jobs have been lost due to the shortage of premix.

Five Oil Marketing Companies who hitherto supplied the region with premix fuel have all lost their businesses with only Star Oil being the only accredited Oil marketing supplier of the fuel to the region.

Fishermen and outboard motor operators are frustrated over the shortage and have called for urgent action to be taken.

They have also called on the President John Evans Atta Mills to fulfill his campaign promise of making life comfortable for the fishermen.

Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana