The President of the National Fisheries Association, Richter Nii Armah Amarfio, says that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will investigate all illegal and corrupt practices within the premix fuel value chain.
He claimed that premix fuel was diverted by persons in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2017, and yet no one has been prosecuted to date.
Speaking during ‘Political Parties Dialogue on the Fisheries Sector’ on September 17, Mr Amarfio said that under the previous NDC government, there was a proper premix secretariat through which premix fuel was distributed to fishermen for sale to their members.
“Today, when you come to Tema and you are not NPP, they will not give you premix. That is a truism. The premix is being sold by the NPP people who have nothing to do with fishing,” he stressed.
“His Excellency John Mahama and the NDC government will investigate all illegal and corrupt practices within the premix value chain and make sure that premix is handed over to fishermen and regulated in terms of its management,” he said.
Mr Amarfio also said the NDC party will address illegal and unreported fishing by working closely with the fishing industry.
He stated that the party will focus on compliance rather than enforcement, noting that it is better for fishermen to voluntarily comply with regulations.
The President of the National Fisheries Association added that the fishing industry is struggling and requires rebuilding, with efforts aimed at restoring and resetting the sector.
“There will be a fishery center where we will provide services for fishermen in other that they will have services at their disposal.”