By Regina Kwapong
Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and Member of Parliament for Trobu Constituency, Moses Anim, has disclosed that the Fisheries Ministry has collaborated with the Forestry Commission to cease new canoe entrants.
In an interview with Thelma Tackie on GTV’s Breakfast Show On September 18, 2023, Mr Anim mentioned that there will be a temporary prohibition on new canoe entrants, and this will be done in partnership with the Forestry Commission for the next three years.
He added that this partnership is in line with portraying the direct and indirect role that the Forestry Commission plays in the development of the fisheries industry in Ghana.
In a recent statement, it was reported that there are 110,252 registered direct fishermen and 12,175 canoes, with each fisherman being assigned a unique number and endorsement, and that new entrants will therefore be noticed and sanctioned.
He also said that, currently, only the replacement of damaged canoes will be permitted under the current directives.
As part of this new partnership, the Forestry Commission has declared a three-year ban on logging for canoe purposes, except in cases where the Fisheries Commission issues a letter confirming an individual’s eligibility for a replacement canoe, which requires following a specific process.
Furthermore, extensive community and regional engagement was carried out to obtain feedback on the canoe entrants, resulting in a 70% acceptance rate from the targeted group.
