Fisher folks and commercial boats owners in Tepa Abotoase, a fishing community along the Volta Lake in of the Volta region, have resolved to abandon their boats and nets in an indefinite strike action.
The action, according to Togbega Raphael, Spokesperson for the Inland Fishermen and Boat Owners Union at Tepa Abotoase is to protest the perennial shortage of pre-mix fuel.
Togbega Raphael said the community has not been receiving adequate supply of pre-mix for more than eight market days now accusing the committee in-charge of pre-mix fuel of hoarding the little available.
[contextly_sidebar id=”wp58vLjaM7J1gnRaZzOu5ZMvc6qmn59f”]The situation, he said has brought untoward hardship onto boat operators, who are running at a loss, and left them at the mercy of middlemen.
The situation however is not different at Gemeni in the South Dayi District Assembly.
The strike if carried through, traders who cross the lake from the Affram Plains to sell food stuff at the Gemeni, Kwamikrom,Battor Korpe, and Motto way markets will be stranded, as there will be no commercial boats to ferry them and their commodities across the lake.
“What we need now is the fuel; we are sitting here doing nothing. I believe if government supply more fuel no one would hoard it; because if you hold it, no one would buy since it is in abundance’’ Abubakari Gabasah one of the workers said.
The union declared to penalise any member who might want to defy the directives of the strike with a spot fine of GH1000 and a three month ban.
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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana