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| Task Force On Inspection of Fishing Vessels |
An eight-member Task Force that will enforce fisheries law and regulations has been inaugurated in Accra.
The Task Force will
help improve enforcement of the required conditions for the renewal of
fishing license for fishing vessels in accordance with Fisheries Act,
2002 (Act 625), Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.I 1968), Fisheries
(Amendment) Act, 2014 (Act 880) and the Fisheries (Amendment)
Regulations, 2015 (L.I 2217).
It is also expected
to inspect sanitary and hygienic conditions to ascertain if they meet
minimum sanitary conditions, inspect the cabins and washroom facilities
and safety equipment to ascertain if they are sufficient for the crew,
inspect radio and communication equipment, fishing gear, validity of
fishing license, fishing logbooks, validity of insurance for hull,
machinery and crew members as well as assess if a vessel has met the
required conditions for undertaking fishing trip.
Members of the Task
Force are Naval Captain Emmanuel Kwafo (Ghana Navy), Samuel Dudu Manu
(Post Harvest, Fisheries Commission), Rebecca Sackey-Mensah (Marine
Fisheries Management Division), Enoch Boadu Amo (Ministry Of Fisheries
and Aquaculture Development), Jeremiah Amoah, Mavis Afoley Odai, Nana
Abrokwah Asare and Michael Asiamah.
Speaking at the
inaugural ceremony, yesterday, the Minister for Fisheries and
Aquaculture Development, Madam Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye, expressed
concern about the continuous illegal fishing practices, especially at
the marine coastal fishing landing sites, in spite of efforts by the
Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU).
Madam Quaye said it
had become impossible for the FEU to enforce fisheries law and
regulations considering that there were over 300 and 2000 landing sites,
respectively, along the marine coast and the Volta Lake, hence the need
to set up a task force on the inspection of fishing vessels.
She, therefore,
charged the task force to be strong and courageous in carrying out the
mandate spelt out in the terms of preference in order to achieve the
desired results and restore sanity into the fishing industry.
She, however, cautioned them to be guided by the principles of the rule of law so as not to take law into their own hands.
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