By Ewoenam Kpodo, GNA
Ho, Mar 12, GNA – Two fishery advocates have sounded an alarm over the deplorable state of the Fisheries Commission office in Keta, which serves the southern Volta marine/inland zone.Â
The office, located few meters behind the Keta Municipal Assembly, has not seen any significant renovation since 1989, rendering the water closet for example, out of use, with unsanitary surroundings that is embarrassing stakeholders.
The advocates, Mr Victor Dzokoto, a fisherman at Vodza, near Keta and Mr Kwesi Randolph Johnson, a civil society organisation official said the area around the office had become deplorable raising concerns about the image of the institution responsible for managing fishing in Volta’s south.
He appealed for urgent action to restore sanitation and renovate the facility.
“We are humbly appealing to corporate individuals and organisations to come to our aid,” said Mr Dzokoto, describing the situation as unacceptable.
Mr Johnson suggested that local action could address the sanitation issues, starting with a clean-up exercise and enforcing regulations saying, “If someone can donate locally made standing brooms and matchetes, we can organise a clean-up.”
He agreed, adding that his group was ready to volunteer, “But the office itself also needs a facelift,” questioning why authorities in Accra had not prioritised renovating the facility after decades of use.
Mr Promise Kofi Bakah, Assemblyman for Abutiakope, where the office is located, in an interview with Ghana News Agency said it was misleading to refer to the area around the office as unsanitary, saying a clean-up exercise was carried out in that vicinity to mark February Sanitation Day.
“Actually, the stretch of road leading to the office was a waterlogged area which easily flooded with the slightest of rain. So, we decided to be heaping it with rubbish which is done now. The next target is to cover it with sand. Just last month, we did a clean-up exercise here.”
I got a glimpse of the assembly even considering relocating the office to the PWD yard which will be a more befitting place. But to call the surrounding area as unsanitary, no.”
Mr William Agbenu, Volta Region Fisheries Director acknowledged the Keta office was due for renovation, stating reports had been sent to superiors for action.
On sanitation, he emphasised that the Keta Municipal Assembly should ensure cleanliness in the area, given the office’s proximity to the assembly’s jurisdiction.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba