Help govt to check diversion of pre-mix fuel

News page 47 (Lead) November 17/2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

THE President of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF), Nana Kwao Otuo V, has urged members of the association and its affiliates to intensify their efforts at helping the government to halt the diversion of premix fuel for fishing and other supporting facilities meant to enhance fishing and farming in the country.
He said due to the diversionary tactics of some operators in the system, farmers and fishermen were not fully benefiting from the government’s subsidies on inputs depended on by farmers and fishermen in the discharge of their duties.
Nana Otuo made the call when he presented a certificate of recognition to the Ghana Fishing Fuel Dealers, Retailers and Users Association (GFFDRUA) at a short ceremony in Accra yesterday.
By the presentation, which was preceded by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), the new association becomes a fully recognised affiliate of GNAFF and will among others, function under the constitution of GNAFF.
It will also require both parties to form a joint executive team to work to improve the socio-economic welfare of members by improving access to general agricultural inputs such as fuel, lubricants, fishing nets, timber for boats, outboard motors and accessories, among others.
Nana Otuo described the members of GFFDRUA as forceful and expressed the hope that they would play by the rules to ensure that they achieved their aims and objectives.
He said the government was doing its best for the fishing and farming sectors and that players within those sectors needed to derive the maximum benefits.
The Chief Executive of GFFDRUA, Mr Philip Blessman, who received the certificate and signed the MOU on behalf of the association, expressed the gratitude of the association to GNAFF for accepting it as an affiliate.
He said the association had gone far to ensure that the diversion of premix fuel to inland ports such as Yeji and others was brought under control.
“We are using the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to fish out all those who do the diversion and we are making a significant head way,” he said.
Mr Blessman said the subsidies on fishing implements and fuel needed to be enjoyed by players in the sector who would, in turn, make the prices of fish, among others, more affordable to the people.

Picture A: Nana Otuo V (left), the President of GNAFF, presenting a certificate of recognition to Mr Blessman, the Chief Executive of GFFDRUA, after the signing of the MOU. Looking on are members of the GFFDRUA.