FISHERMEN CALL FOR CHECK ON ILLEGAL FISHING METHODS (BACK PAGE)

FISHERMEN and youth leaders at Nungua and Tema have called on the government to be mindful of its campaign promises to fishermen in the country and work towards fulfilling them as another fishing season approaches.
The bumper season is usually between the months of June and October, but the fishermen claim that the use of light at sea, dynamites and poisonous solutions and pair trawling in recent times had virtually collapsed their business.
They, therefore, called on the government to set up a special task force to check pair trawling and the use of other illegal methods of fishing.
In a statement issued in Tema last Thursday, the fishermen and the youth leaders said the task force could work together with the security agencies to check the abuses during the forthcoming fishing season.
The statement further urged the government to withdraw all licences for pair trawling, since those engaged in the practice often used those permits to defend themselves.
The signatories to the statement included Nii Tettey Bortier, the Nungua Woleiatse, Nii Borketey, the Chairman of the youth association, Nii Charway Ayi and Nii Bortier Omanka, both fishermen.
The fishermen and youth leaders, however, expressed their appreciation to the government for fulfilling its campaign promise to return to the original owners of Nungua lands that were acquired by the government but not been used.
They appealed to the people of Nungua to appreciate the noble gesture of the government by resolving their differences to create a peaceful atmosphere to attract investors.
They also appealed to the government to ensure that all conditions contained in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that governed the release of the land were strictly enforced in the interest of the people.
The fishermen and youth leaders called on the people of Nungua to respect the ruling of the Supreme Court and the Nyemitei Commission of Enquiry’s report, as well as Executive Instrument 18 of 1983.