By J. K Nabary, GNA
Senya Bereku (C/R), March 04, GNA – The Government has extended support to the six effected artisanal vessel owners whose canoes with crew members were attacked on Thursday February 26, by armed robbers four kilometers off the coast of Senya Bereku.
The robbers fired warning shots before attacking the 71 artisanal fishermen in six canoes, and took away their outboard motors, communication radios and some other items.
The effected canoe owners from Tema, Ada and Senya communities received brand new outboard motors, and five thousand Ghana Cedis each.
A standby outboard motor was also presented to Neenyi Mortey, the Chief Fisherman of Senya Bereku, and his executives, to be used during emergencies.
The gesture was in fulfilment of the government’s promise at restoring their livelihoods after the unfortunate incident.
Madam Emelia Arthur, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture who made the presentation at a ceremony at Senya Bereku on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, said fishermen played a critical role in Ghana’s socio-economic development.
Madam Arthur extended President Mahama’s empathy to victims of the traumatic experience.
She thanked Madam Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, the Member of Parliament for Awutu-Senya West, for the quick move made when the information got to her, leading to the rescuing of the 71 crew members, 47 of whom were from her constituency.
She also thanked the people of Senya, especially the Chief Fisherman and his executives who also joined the search and the rescue mission.
Madam Arthur who was joined by Madam Tetteh-Agbotui to present the machines, reaffirmed the government’s commitment at safeguarding the welfare of all fishermen, as well as ensuring security within Ghana’s coastal waters.
She also schooled them on the need to eschew the use of chemicals, light and other unapproved nets for fishing since it was an offence by law.
Madam Arthur used the occasion to announce the government’s plans to roll out a robust registration and licensing scheme for artisanal fishing vessels by June 2026, to ensure effective monitoring of activities on Ghana’s marine waters.
The registration policy would include the installation of hi-tech tracking and communication devices in artisanal canoes, to support fishermen to place timely distress calls for aid and rescuing when the need arose during their expeditions.
She said that the Ministry of Fisheries was also working on an insurance and pension scheme for artisanal fisher folks, as the fisheries sector was so important to Ghana for nutrition.
Madam Tetteh-Agbotui thanked President Mahama, and all stakeholders who supported the successful rescue mission.
She noted that the government had put in place a team of psychologists from the military to offer counselling sessions to all the 71 robbery victims, to relax them psychologically and prepare them again to commence their fishing expeditions.
Later in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, some of the victims and canoe owners expressed their gratitude to the government for the swift intervention and called for intensified security on the sea to prevent future occurrences.
Among personalities at the ceremony were personnel of the Ministry of Fisheries, family members of the effected fishermen, Captain Nathaniel Kojo Anderson, Awutu-Senya West Constituency NDC Chairman, Assembly members, Central Regional Fisheries Commission Director, Mr Emmanuel Dovulo and Mr Issah Minusah Deputy in charge of investigation at the National Security Office.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/ Christabel Addo