Fisheries Minster Inaugurates V/Region Premix Coordinating C’ttee

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, has inaugurated a six-member regional premix coordinating committee in the Volta Region to combat the diversion of premix fuel.

This is an intervention following a nationwide premix diversion scandal that hit the secretariat, causing the state to lose revenue.

The six member committee which includes Kudjoh Atta, Rev Johnson Avulete, Elikem Sewortor, George Dzoble, Albertos Adenu and  chaired by the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, is expected to among other things liaise between the landing beach committees and the national premix fuel Secretariat, estimate premix fuel consumption for the landing beach committees to help in placing appropriate orders for the landing beaches, monitor and reconcile premix fuel dispatch from Tema oil refinery to ensure their safe delivery at the designated landing beaches, as well as ensure landing beach committees comply with sales, safety measures of the national premix fuel committee regulations, and NPA’s advice.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Mrs. Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, inaugurating the Committee in the Volta Regional Capital, Ho on Monday, was optimistic the mandate of the Committee would help save the nation’s purse and enhance accountability.

“The nation is spending so much money, huge sums of money to subsidize premix fuel, the taxpayer pays his tax and that money is used to subsidize premix fuel heavily for the fishermen, so we can improve upon our fisheries. Issues about the premix fuel, and the problems that we are facing as a nation with regards to premix fuel, will become a thing of the past” she said.

The Volta Region has about 1,232 landing beaches with over 45,000 fishermen; about 20,000 inland fishermen, whiles the rest are into marine fishing.

The event saw various Districts and Municipal Chief Executives including other key stakeholders in the fishery industry attending.

The Committee Chairman, who doubles as the Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, assured the gathering that the team would ensure effective delivery of their mandate to enhance the lives of fisher folks.

Source: Citifmonline