MPs discuss plight of fishermen

Members of Parliament have urged fisher folk to avail themselves of the various insurance policies that exist in the country.
They said considering the spate of disasters in the country, it was important that individuals in the fishing industry signed on to the products of the insurance companies so that in the event of a disaster, the companies could come to their aid.

The MPs were contributing to a statement by the member for Effutu, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin (NPP) on the severe rainstorm which occurred on May 19, this year at Winneba and its environs resulting in the destruction of fishing equipment valued at GH¢ 400,000.

Mr Afenyo-Markin said the rainstorm destroyed more than 50 canoes and other fishing equipment and as a result deprived hundreds of fishermen of their livelihood.

He said if nothing was done to assist the fishermen in the next few months, the fishing industry in the Effutu Constituency would collapse.

He appealed to the Ministry of Fisheries and Acquaculture as a matter of urgency to provide help to the fishermen, saying there was the need for an immediate intervention to assuage the pain of the victims of the storm.

Mr Afenyo-Markin also appealed to the government to address the problem of diversion of premix fuel which had bedevilled the fishing industry.

The Member for Central Tongu, Mr Joe Gidisu (NDC), appealed to members in whose constituencies fishing activities took place to organise fishermen into groups and introduce them to the various insurance policies of the different companies.

He also called for more resources for the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to take up such issues on behalf of the government.

The Member for Tema East, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover (NPP), urged NADMO to assist Effutu storm victims but said the aid needed to come in another form and not the sharing of the usual relief items.

He urged the government to “fast track” the construction of landing sites at the beaches.

The Member for Dome/ Kwabenya, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo (NPP), noted that the standard of living in fishing areas was very low, with most children in fishing villages and towns not in school.

The situation, she said, called for urgent interventions by the government to improve the lives of the people in those areas.

She said if fishermen were well resourced, the extensive importation of fish into the country would stop, adding that Ghana had enough stock of fish in its rivers, lakes and oceans.

“We need a national policy on fishing. We need to take a look at the fishing industry again,” she said.

The Member for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Mr Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko (NPP) said the severe rainstorms and adverse weather conditions being experienced in the coastal areas were all signs of climate change.

He said it was impossible for the government alone to bear the burden of providing assistance to the victims of the rainstorm and said the situation made it imperative for the fishermen to access insurance services.

The Member for Essikado/Ketan, Mr Joe Ghartey, said about a quarter of the population of Ghana was involved in fishing and added that due to the huge number, it was important that problems in the industry were addressed.

He called for policies that would make the industry thrive and said, for instance, Ghanaians could start the cultivation of fish in the sea as was done by some countries in the Scandinavia.

He said if the fishing industry in Ghana improved, it would have a positive effect on the economy.

Story: Mark-Anthony Vinorkor