Vision Statement by Central Regional Chief Fishermen's Union at the ...
1 VISION STATEMENT BY CENTRAL REGIONAL CHIEF FISHERMEN UNION Delivered by Nana Kwamena Ababio III Date: 16 November 2015 Venue: Pempamsie Hotel, Cape Coast Mr. Chairman, The Central Regional Minister, Nananom, Members of Parliament, Ladies and Gentlemen, All protocols observed; I am Nana Kwamena Ababio III, Chief Fishermen (Agyaa) and also public relations officer for the Central Regional Chief Fishermen’s Union. I bring the vision of national development of the fishermen, especially the canoe fishermen. We recognise many things that the present government is doing for the fisher folk. We appreciate it. But we think there are some things that need to be put in place to bring up more development in our beaches. 1. Chief Fishermen are not properly recognised as chiefs because even at this programme, our presence was not acknowledged. My colleague chiefs present here recognise that Chief Fishermen are chiefs. We are traditional chiefs and we enstool from our various families. There are few of us who are chosen from the beaches so we need to be recognised. 2. Canoe fishermen experience a lot of difficulties in bringing canoes from the forest. It is very sad when you go the forest, seeing a fisherman sleeping in the forest. We hope that the wood industry can use timber from the forest to manufacture canoes for canoe fishing. There are now even fibre glass canoes. This should be factored into the development plan as a modern canoe fishing strategy to help minimise the number of trees felled for making canoes. 3. Canoe fishermen also need landing sites. There are so many things happening on our beaches which cause damage to our canoes and other fishing equipment and also cause the loss of life. Facilitating the provision of landing sites for canoe fishing will improve REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Vision Statement by Central Regional Chief Fishermen Union ©NDPC, 16th November 2015
2 overall canoe fishing industry performance and contribute to the development of the nation. 4. Premix fuel – Fishermen are left out of the management of premix fuel. We have a Premix Secretariat and a Premix Committee and each region has to have a representative at these levels. These representatives must be elected by executives of the Chief Fishermen in the region. This can help the industry. We fishermen are not regulated. I think the government has to bring in some policies that will regulate the sector. Now the sea is polluted because of illegal practices and the volume of fish catch is decreasing. The government should come out with measures to abolish all illegal practices such as the use of DDT, dynamite, etc. Our beaches must also be maintained very well to increase our tourism potential. It is very sad when you go to beaches that are unclean due to defecation. We must also stop using our beaches as waste dumps, thereby destroying their potential. Organisations of the fishing industry are all not working. That is why we established the Central Regional Chief Fishermen’s Union. The long-term plan must therefore include proper organisation of the fishing industry. Education in the Canoe Fishing Industry There is currently a Fisheries College coming up at Anomabo. The Chief Fishermen’s Union envisions that fisheries education should be added to the curriculum at primary to junior high school levels. Because those of us living at the beaches started fishing in our childhood, we lacked an educational background to go with it. Integrating fisheries education from primary to JHS level will be helpful in encouraging further fisheries education in fisheries colleges. In conclusion, the fisheries industry must be monitored and audited so that it can contribute meaningfully to national development. Thank you.
REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Vision Statement by Central Regional Chief Fishermen Union ©NDPC, 16th November 2015
2 overall canoe fishing industry performance and contribute to the development of the nation. 4. Premix fuel – Fishermen are left out of the management of premix fuel. We have a Premix Secretariat and a Premix Committee and each region has to have a representative at these levels. These representatives must be elected by executives of the Chief Fishermen in the region. This can help the industry. We fishermen are not regulated. I think the government has to bring in some policies that will regulate the sector. Now the sea is polluted because of illegal practices and the volume of fish catch is decreasing. The government should come out with measures to abolish all illegal practices such as the use of DDT, dynamite, etc. Our beaches must also be maintained very well to increase our tourism potential. It is very sad when you go to beaches that are unclean due to defecation. We must also stop using our beaches as waste dumps, thereby destroying their potential. Organisations of the fishing industry are all not working. That is why we established the Central Regional Chief Fishermen’s Union. The long-term plan must therefore include proper organisation of the fishing industry. Education in the Canoe Fishing Industry There is currently a Fisheries College coming up at Anomabo. The Chief Fishermen’s Union envisions that fisheries education should be added to the curriculum at primary to junior high school levels. Because those of us living at the beaches started fishing in our childhood, we lacked an educational background to go with it. Integrating fisheries education from primary to JHS level will be helpful in encouraging further fisheries education in fisheries colleges. In conclusion, the fisheries industry must be monitored and audited so that it can contribute meaningfully to national development. Thank you.
REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Vision Statement by Central Regional Chief Fishermen Union ©NDPC, 16th November 2015
