An eleven-member Board for the National Premix Fuel Committee has been established by Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, on behalf of his Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana.
According to the National Premix Fuel Committee Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2233), the National Premix Fuel Committee was founded with the goal of making it easier for the Republic’s fishing villages to obtain and distribute premix fuel.
According to Hon. Arthur, who spoke to the media today in Accra, the Committee would be crucial in making sure that premix fuel resources are handled legally and distributed fairly, as well as in assisting artisanal fishermen in their livelihoods and promoting the development of coastal communities.
She stated that the government is still determined to enforce the current rules, which require each landing beach to have a specific committee in charge of the distribution of premix fuel.
She underlined that rigorous adherence to this framework will guarantee openness and stop unfair practices.
In compliance with section 27 of L.I. 2233, the government is dedicated to guaranteeing accountability for the allocation of the profits from the margins from the sale of premix fuel.
All Landing Beach Committees are required by Regulation 27(1) to allocate the profits from the premix sale in the following manner:
53% to the fishing community
12% to the office of the Chief Fisherman or the Headman
18% to other members of the Committee
10% to the secretary and
7% to the Pump Attendant
The National Premix Fuel Committee was urged by the Hon. Minister to make sure that the monies allocated for the community (53%) must be used to promote initiatives and development programs that benefit the entire community.
According to her, this demonstrates the government’s dedication to using locally available resources to promote sustainable development.
In order to guarantee equity, accountability, and openness, the Minister also asked the Committee to conduct an audit of the previous years’ use of the community funds (53%).
The Hon. Minister stated that in order to maintain efficiency and transparency regarding the status of the Landing Beaches, the Ministry will keep using technology to automate and enforce a tracking regime for premix fuel delivery.
In order to ensure effective use of the margins earned from the sale of premix fuel at the local level, the Minister urged all stakeholders to make sure the composition and selection of the LBCs complies with the law and that the appropriate individuals are chosen to represent them locally.
The artisanal fishing industry, which sustains the livelihoods of thousands of coastal and inland fishing communities, continues to depend heavily on premix fuel.
The Ministry reiterates its commitment to making sure it is distributed and made available in an efficient manner in order to support sustainable fisheries management and the socioeconomic welfare of fishing communities across the country.
The list of board members is as follows:
1.Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Defeamekpor – Chairperson, Ministers, Nominee
2. Ekow Ebow Mensah – Secretary, Premix Administrator
3.Ms Marian W.A. Kpakpah – Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture
4.Mr. Stephen Langmatey Nadu – Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
5.Rosina Williams – Fisheries Commission
6.Mamaga Delight Esi Ametepe – National Inland and Canoe Fishermen Council
7.Richard Kofi Dadzie – Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council
8.Jacob Kabore Tetteh Ageke – National Fisheries Association of Ghana
9.Dr. Riverson Oppong – Industry Coordinator of The Association of Oil Marketing Companies
10. James Essoun – Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Representative
11.Julius Annang Ashitey – Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Representative
Source: newsthemegh.com