The 2016 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has assured fisherfolk across the coastal areas of the country of better times and improved working conditions, if he is elected President in the November polls.
Addressing fisherfolk at Apeosika, in the Evalue-Gwira Constituency in the Western Region, on Tuesday, Nana Akufo-Addo, observed that 10 percent of Ghanaians are in the fishing sector adding that his government will put in place measures to stimulate growth in the sector.
Among his plans to change the sector is aggressively to tackle the phenomenon of light fishing activities across the country, which he said is depleting the country’s marine stock.
- Tackling light fishing activities
[contextly_sidebar id=”lgYbKrDl5iRAqNUxQC5QJVlLDEYW9wrg”]“Tackling light fishing has to be a priority of any government, especially in Akufo-Addo’s government. We will do this to help all of us, otherwise, not too far away in the future, there will be no fish left for us in our waters. We have to preserve the marine stocks of our country, and step one will be dealing with the situation of light fishing,” he noted.
- To establish landing sites
The second measure, he noted, will be to establish landing sites and fishing harbours in Axim and in other parts of the coastal belt of the country.
- Construction of sea defense wall
Thirdly there will be the construction of a sea defense walls.
We need good governance to save Ghana
On the issue of the rising cost of fishing inputs, Nana Akufo-Addo explained that the situation boils down to the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy by the NDC government, stressing that “if you have good governance you can solve the problems of your country.”
He stressed that the increase in the price of an outboard motor, from GH¢2,950, at the end of 2008, to the current price of GH¢10,900, as per statistics obtained from the Ghana Canoe and Fishermen’s Council, is an example of the effects of economic mismanagement under the last 8 years of the NDC government.
“We (in the NPP) are bringing good governance to Ghana to solve the problems of the people of this country, so we can bring relief to all every Ghanaian,” he said, to loud cheers of approval from the gathering.
The NPP flagbearer was at a loss as to why the sale of premix fuel for fishing activities had been put in the hands of District Chief Executives and political appointees in the country.
“Let us leave it to the fishermen to deal with the premix fuel themselves. That way, there will be no politicisation or cronyism in this matter. We can only build Ghana when we all put our shoulders to the wheel. We (in the NPP) are not going to politicize issues of economic activities in this country. Whether you are NDC or NPP, we are all Ghanaians and we all have to join hands and work hard for the development of this country”, he added.
Nana Akufo-Addo further called for the support of the fisherfolk of Apeosika stressing that “everything you can do to help me win the election, please do. I am appealing to you to have confidence in me and support me fully. This is my third attempt. Try me also and when, God-willing, you give me the opportunity, I promise that I will not let you down.”
Nana Akufo-Addo, prior to his encounter with the fisherfolk, paid a courtesy call on Awulae Atibrukusu III, Chief of Axim.
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Office of Nana Addo