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Fishermen introduced to fiber glass canoes

r Bernard Lamptey (hand stretched), Managing Director of Ghana Egypt Fiber Glass Industry, conducting Nii Lante Vanderpuije (2nd right), Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Aquinas Tawiah Quansah (3rd right), Deputy Minister of Fisheries, and Mr Omar Selim (3rd left), Egyptian Ambassador in Accra, round the Fiber Glass Boat after the launch of the facility in Accra. Picture: GABRIEL AHIABORFiber glass canoes and boats were introduced to the fishing community at the James Town Beach in Accra yesterday to replace wooden ones.

The new technology, introduced by the Ghana Egypt Fiber Glass Industry, a joint venture firm, is to help the fishing community to add value to its catch and enhance its operations.

Launching the products, the Managing Director of the company, Mahammed El Tonsy, said fiber glass canoes and boats for fishing were not new, as they were being used by fishermen in some African countries and the developed world.

After a careful study of the operations of fishermen along the country’s coast, the company thought it wise to transfer the technology of fiber glass canoes and boats construction concept from Egypt to Ghana, to assist the fishermen, he said, noting that the lifespan and performance level of wooden canoes were nothing to write home about.

According to Mr Tonsy, the situation necessitated the need for an alternative technology to replace wooden canoes and help increase the output of fish farming, while safeguarding the lifespan of their tools and equipment.

The company intends to set up similar assembling plants in many fishing communities.

The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Nii Lante Vanderpuije, said the country’s forest resources were being depleted due to the indiscriminate felling of trees.

He said the fiber glass technology would assist the government to check environmental degradation which was of great concern.

Nii Vanderpuije, who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, expressed the hope that the new technology would be cost-effective and affordable to the fishermen.

The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, called for the support of the government to make the new technology available to fishermen.

Focusing on the sustenance of the fishing industry, the President of the Ghana National Canoe and Fishermen Council, Nii Abeo Kyerekwanda, said the sector was currently experiencing a worrying decline due to lack of finances and called on the government to come to the aid of fishermen.

According to the International Sales Manager of the Ghana-Egypt Fiber Glass Industry, Mr Benedict Lamptey, the company would assist in the provision of infrastructure and facilities to carry out the project.

By Mary Mensah & Francesca Annicchiarico

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