By Yvonne Atilego.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aqua-Culture Development says it has instituted a monitory and tracking system for all premix fuel to their destination to prevent diversion. Due to this system, illegal activities such as diversion and hoarding of the commodity has reduced drastically.
Speaking to journalists in Accra, the Sector Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson said the tracking is being done in collaboration with the National Petroleum Authority and the National Premix Secretariat. She announced that the Ministry has initiated processes to digitize and supply distribution of premix fuel as a measure of diversion and hoarding. Under the digitization programme, sale of premix fuel would be fully automated and the fisherfolk would be required to use canoe identification cards to buy the product.
‘’We now monitor. We track the vehicles from TOR to the distribution centers. Automation would solve the problems of diversion. Government has lost a lot. NPA and the Premix Secretariat would do the monitoring,’’ she stated.
Madam Mavis Hawa Koomson said the Ministry in collaboration with relevant security Agencies have intensified enforcement activities to deal with illegal fishing. Those who are found culpable will be dealt with according to law.
“The Ministry will intensify enforcement activities with other agencies. All those who break the law would be arrested and prosecuted. As I indicated during my vetting, I would enforce all the laws for the betterment of future generations,’’ the Fisheries and Aqua-Culture Development Minister noted.
