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The Fishers Welfare Scheme has been launched at Apo-Bakano in the Shama municipality of the Western Region, to chart a new social wellbeing and welfare for Fishers within the sector.
The Scheme, which enjoined canoe owners to contribute a mandatory monthly amount of 100 cedis to an ADB account, would cater for Health Insurance, free health screening, accident or incident benefit, input credit allowance and a partial withdrawal after 24 continuous months of savings.
Madam Emelia Arthur, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture who launched the scheme lauded the initiative by the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association for the move to rescue many Fishers from the quagmire of periodic poverty.
She said climate changes required that the fishers changed their ways to improve upon harvest and spoke against the use of dynamite, light fishing, as well as the use of unapproved chemicals by the women to preserve fishes.
She announced that the Ministry, had declared the Cape Three Points area as a marine protected space and encouraged them to abide by it, adding that crew safety and security had also become a major concern for the Ministry.
Madam Arthur explained that the issues surrounding delays of premix fuel, were also because of rehabilitation works at the Tema Oil refinery and assured of improved supply since the government had cleared all existing debts.
Nana Kweigyah, President of the Association noted that the welfare of Fishers was integral to the survival of the industry and praised the Ministry for the various initiatives to help artisanal fishers.
He, however, called for an insurance scheme for Fishers and prayed that all material and equipment supplies would be given directly to canoe owners rather than intermediaries.
