The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has issued a stern warning to Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) to comply strictly with the approved prices for premix fuel.
She said the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the National Premix Fuel Secretariat would not tolerate the sale of premix fuel above approved prices, the hoarding of the product or its diversion for private resale.
“Every Landing Beach Committee must sell premix fuel at the approved price. The Ministry will not countenance any attempt to exploit fishers by increasing the price, hoarding the product or diverting it for resale,” Ms Arthur warned.
Under the new price schedule, premix fuel will sell at GH¢5.51 per litre and GH¢24.80 per gallon.
Accordingly, 80 gallons will cost GH¢1,984, while 70 gallons will sell for GH¢1,736. The approved price for 50 gallons is GH¢1,240, while a yellow gallon will cost GH¢174.
The Minister directed executives of the LBCs to display the approved prices prominently at landing beaches to enable fishers to know the exact amounts they are required to pay.
“No fisherman or fish processor should be made to pay one pesewa above the approved price. These prices must be displayed clearly at every landing beach. Any committee that violates this directive will be dealt with,” she stated.
The Administrator of the National Premix Fuel Secretariat, Ebow Mensah, also cautioned LBCs against creating artificial shortages by withholding supplies or selling the product to middlemen.
“Premix fuel is subsidized by the state to support fishing communities. It is not a commodity for committee members or individuals to hoard and resell at higher prices,” Mr Mensah said.
He announced that the approved prices would be broadcast on radio stations and through community information centres across the country.
According to him, the price schedule would also be widely shared on social media platforms to ensure that fishers and members of the public were adequately informed.
“We are taking the approved prices directly to the people. They will be announced on radio, broadcast through community information centres and shared widely on social media. No LBC can therefore claim that it was unaware of the approved prices,” Mr Mensah stated.
He said any future adjustment to the price of premix fuel would be formally communicated to fishers and other stakeholders in the industry through approved information channels.
“Whenever there is a new price, the Ministry and the Secretariat will communicate it clearly for the information of fishers and all industry players. Until such an announcement is made, LBCs must continue to sell at the existing approved price,” he said.
Mr Mensah explained that the nationwide public education campaign would enable fishers to identify and report LBCs that imposed illegal charges.
He added that the Secretariat would strengthen monitoring at landing beaches and investigate complaints involving overpricing, diversion and unauthorized resale.
“We will follow the distribution of the product from the oil marketing company to the landing beach. Any LBC found selling above the approved price, diverting supplies or conniving with middlemen will face sanctions,” he warned.
The Secretariat has therefore urged chief fishermen, canoe owners, fishers and members of the public to report any LBC that breaches the approved price schedule.
Ms Arthur said the government was determined to protect the premix fuel subsidy from abuse and ensure that the product reached the fishers for whom it was intended.
“The era when a few people took advantage of premix fuel at the expense of fishing communities must end. Public officials and committee members entrusted with the product must account for every consignment,” the Minister said.
