The executives of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) have paid a courtesy call on the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) on Thursday 4th July, 2019 at the Ghana Shippers’ House in Accra.
The maiden visit was upon the request of the GSA for the two parties to discuss issues of interests and also offer the Association the platform to present fisheries-related concerns for deliberation and support.
The NAFAG is the umbrella entity for the Ghana Tuna Association (GTA), Ghana Inshore Trawlers Association (GITA), Ghana Inshore Fishermen Association (GIFA), Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) and the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (NICFC).
The delegation, led by the President of NAFAG, Mr Simon Agah, among others, expressed reservations about fishing vessels operated by their members being charged the same port rates as merchant vessels by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority(GPHA) and appealed to the GSA to intervene.
They also called for the establishment of a Tuna Faculty at the Regional Maritime University (RMU) to train Ghanaians to man their tuna fishing vessels to bring down the cost of hiring expatriates to operate them.
Ghana ranks first and fifth in the export of tuna in Africa and the world respectively and has an estimated worth of 400,000 tonnes of tuna for exploitation.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, Ms Sylvia Asana Dauda-Owu assured NAFAG of her organisation’s support and commitment in raising their concerns with the relevant institutions for redress.
She encouraged NAFAG to always knock on the doors of the GSA to discuss issues of mutual concern for the benefit of the fisheries sector and the maritime industry as a whole.
