Tema, Oct. 28,- Mrs Gladys
DedeAdjetey, Chief Executive Officer, Obaduro Fisheries, has called on
President Akufo-Addo to make the fishing industry the preserve of Ghanaians
since foreigners are hijacking it by pushing locals to degrading fringes.
“The fishing industry has
supported and will continue to support women in the coastal communities. They
rely on it for all what they count worthy in their lives. If we allow foreigners
to take over the industry, the dignity of the coastal woman would be in
tatters. Make an indigenized fishing industry one of your legacies for
Ghanaians,” she said.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency
in Tema, Mrs Adjetey said fishing was not only a veritable source of employment
but a tradition and culture that held the coastal communities together.
“From the fishermen who paddle
their canoes at dawn in search of fish to fish processors engaged in full time
smoking, drying and salt-drying, they all look up to a strong leader who knows
what a strong local fishing industry can do to address the nagging issues of
poverty and destitution in the coastal communities.”
According to her, the foreigners
were repatriating huge sums of money to their home countries and were even
shying away from their corporate social responsibilities.
MrsAdjetey said there were well
resourced Ghanaians who could command the heights of the industry if laws and
regulations are crafted to suit them.
She said the employment and human
rights records of these foreign companies and peoples were appalling as they
treated Ghanaian workers without dignity.
She appealed to the President to
acquire a research fishing vessel to improve date collection, training and conception
and implementation of viable policies that would aid the local fishing
industry.
She deplored illegal fishing
practices saying that” if we kill fingerlings today, what fish will be
available to catch in future” adding that “ a better common sense based anti- illegal fishing campaign should be
crafted to halt the practice.”
GNA
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