The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for the Mfantseman constituency, Ekow Kwansah Hayford, has said he intends to put in place measures to de-politicize the distribution of the premix fuel and outboard motors to fishermen.
Speaking to Citi News after leading party supporters on a float through the streets of Saltpond on Sunday, Mr. Hayford bemoaned the lack of access of some fishermen to essentials like premix fuel which he attributed to partisan elements.
He lamented that the “premix which is supposed to be the cardinal weapon for the people of the fishing community, they are not getting it. Even with their own money, they are not getting it… People are using premix as a business. business is being driven by politics. If you are not a member of a political party, you are not going to get it.”
Mr. Hayford thus said, “what I will do is that the premix will be run by the coastal belt under the leadership of the fishing head, the people. We will take the political aspect from it and ask the people to run it.”
He also said “we are going to ask for accountability. As we speak, people are complaining that those leaders who are running the premix, they are not accounting to the people.”
Also speaking on job creation, the NPP’s focus going into the 2016 polls, Mr. Hayford said he would ensure the allocation of a portion of the district assembly common fund to boost entrepreneurial training skills.
“We are going to set up a youth development fund. We are going to set up entrepreneurial training skills for the youth and what we are going to allocate a certain portion of the district assembly common fund. We are also going to give a tax credit to youth to who want to establish their own business.”
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana