Government Distributes 3,000 Outboard Motors to Fishermen Nationwide



Government has began the distribution of three thousand subsidised outboard motors to fishermen throughout the country.  

President John Dramani Mahama  presented the first one thousand of them to fishermen in the Greater Accra Region at James Town in Accra.  He  also presented free fish processing mesh to fishmongers from Winneba.  

President Mahama said the outboard motors are to facilitate fishing so that fisher folks can maximize catch  to feed the people. 

President Mahama said the country consumes 950 thousand metric tonnes of fish every year. Out of this, 300 thousand metric tonnes is produced locally.  

He said the remaining 650 thousand metric tonnes is imported at a cost of 300 million dollars. It is for this reason that the government has made the sector a priority so that the players with the support of the government can produce more fish locally.  

President Mahama announced that the government will soon begin the construction of landing beach sites across selected fishing communities by the end of the year.  

The President encouraged the fisher folks to set up watch dog committees to prevent some of their own from employing illegal fishing methods in the country's territorial waters.  

He said the Navy and the Marine Police will intensify patrols on the sea to apprehend fishermen who engage in the use of illegal methods in fishing. 

Beneficiary fishermen will pay 70% of the cost of the outboard motors while government has taken up the 30%.

 

GBC