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The way and manner premix fuel been smuggled in Ghana, so there is a need to increase it and handover to the Fisher folks to manage it and by so doing would help reduce the smuggling drastically.
Speaking at annual general meeting, the President of National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (NICFC) Mr. Jacob Kabore Tetteh Ageke, has appealed to government to increased the price of premix fuel from the current price of Gh¢7.50 to Gh¢10.00 to avoid the menace of smuggled.
“All we appealed for is to drawn the attention of current government is that, we the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council, we are about 1,600 communities along the Volta Lake, the 32 District in 8 Regions, and over 80,000 fishermen and 20,000 fishmongers are saying that, a gallon of the premix fuel should be increased to Gh¢10.00 for us so that, we can also have a small margin to enable us solve some of our difficulties confronting our operations” he lamented.
According to him, the government must also handover the premix fuel to key stakeholders manage it, if the Association takes distribution of the premix fuel, they would ensure that members are taken good care of properly, but if it is given to party Chairmen, protocols, DCEs, and MPs, politics would set in, where those who are to benefit would be discriminated.
He was optimistic that if the Minister agrees to gives them the premix fuel to manage it would reduce the smuggled by 95% on the black market.
Mr.Kabore Tetteh observed that by so doing will flush out the issues of child labour and non reciprocal package for retirement plan.
The association will be happy in that direction without any political interference to enable them make provisions for their retired folks.
By Joseph Nana Cobbina/Gideon Kotey
