By P.K. Yankey
Dixcove (W/R), Oct. 09, GNA – Fishers at Lower and Upper Dixcove in the Ahanta West Municipality have raised concerns over government’s proposed gold reconnaissance deal with foreign partners in Ghana’s marine waters, along the shores of Half-Assini in the Jomoro Municipality to Winneba in the Effutu Municipality.
They said the proposed inshore gold mining activities in the sea would have a telling effect on fishers, fish mongers and their livelihoods, as well as deplete fish stock.
The concerns were raised by fishers at a day’s workshop at Dixcove in the Western Region organised by Friends of the Nation (FoN), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), under the project dubbed “Protecting Our Zone, Securing Our Future.”
It was attended by chief fishermen, canoe owners, fish mongers, fishers, the Fisheries Commission, FoN and the media.
Nana Kwaku Dadzie, the Chief Fisherman of Upper Dixcove, said the fishing community was vehemently opposed to gold mining activities in the sea.
He said the government had not had any engagement with fishers and the fishing community on the extraction of gold from the sea.
Nana Dadzie warned that “such a move would bring fishing expeditions in the sea to a standstill and affect the livelihoods of the people.”
He called on the Minerals Commission to rethink the gold reconnaissance deal and suspend it forthwith before facing the wrath of people in the fishing communities.
Konkohene Nana Ekua Morohwewoso, the Chief Fisherwoman of Lower Dixcove, said it was unlawful for the government to wake up all of a sudden, without engaging elders and fishers in the town before embarking on such a move that could adversely affect the livelihoods of millions of people in the coastal belt.
She said the gold mining activities would make the sea toxic, kill fish stock, bringing untold hardships on the people.
She told the GNA that they would never allow gold mining activities in the sea since it would deprive them of their livelihoods.
Mr Mevuta Donkris, the Executive Director of FoN, said the NGO would continue to engage stakeholders in the fishing industry, as well as the government on the proposed inshore gold reconnaissance deal.
He warned that if care was not taken, mining in the sea would cripple fishing activities along the coast of the Western and Central Regions.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga / Christabel Addo