Tema, Jan. 26 GNA – About 750 Fisher folks at the various landing beaches within the Tema metropolis have been registered and issued with the Canoe Identification Cards (CIC) for the purchase of subsidized premix fuel.
Mrs Hannah Ansah, Zonal Fisheries Director for the Tema Metro, Kpone-Katamanso, Ashaiman and Tema West Municipality told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Tema that CIC is part of measures to ensure that the premix fuel went to the right people.
She said the move would help the industry players in the fishery value chain to regulate and monitor activities of the various registered fishermen operating at the various landing beaches.
He said the card was not transferable adding that there were some unique security features, assigned to a specific canoe recognized and duly registered by the Ministry in charge of Aquaculture.
Mrs Ansah noted that days that unknown fisherfolks operated at the various landing beaches would be a thing of the past saying that the government would be able to render accurate accounts on the consumption of its subsidized premix fuel and curb its diversion in the country.
She said the canoe identification card had a three-year validity period after which the prospective owner could renew it for use again.
Mrs Ansah added that there were about 850 canoes operating at the landing beaches in the Tema metropolis stressing that 750 were able to register on time with the fisheries authorities.
She said there were plans to register and distribute the canoe identification cards to the remaining fisherfolk who could not register on time.
Mrs Ansah noted that the registration would soon be replicated in Kpone-Katamanso Municipality also within the Greater Accra Region.
The Fisheries Act 625 of 2002 required that all fishing vessels including artisanal canoes be registered and marked with unique identification numbers.
GNA