Twenty-one fishermen in the Effutu Municipality of Ghana have benefitted from the Micro Finance Small Centre (MASLOC) programme to boost fishing.
Six of the beneficiaries each paid for 40 horse power Yamaha outboard motors valued at GH¢ 49,000 against GH¢ 90,000 sold in the open market while the rest also paid for one each 15 horse power Yamaha outboard motors at a cost of GH¢ 42,000 against GH¢ 75,000 in the market.
Mr Mike Hammah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and also the Member of Parliament for the area who made the presentation in collaboration with some officials from MASLOC at a ceremony at Winneba, said the machines were subsidized by the government as part of the Better Ghana Agenda to help enhance the work of the fishermen.
He said the government was committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian irrespective of his/her political affiliation had their fair share of the national cake, adding that he would continue to ensure that fishermen and farmers in the area benefit from innovations by the governmentr.
Nii Ephraim, Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, said the government had put in place innovations to support agriculture by introducing farmer-based organizations and subsidized prices of inputs.
He appealed to fishermen in the area to form groups and register with the District Assembly through the Chief Fisherman to enable them operate as legal a entity to take advantage of many opportunities the government offers through the Assembly.
Neeyn Monikako, the Winneba Chief Fisherman and Mr John Quayson, the Central Regional Safe Landing Beach Project Coordinator, received the machines and thanked the government for its support for fishermen.
GNA