Eric Opoku, the Minority Spokesperson on Food and Agriculture, has cautioned that the scarcity of premix fuel for fishing activities is likely to drive up fish prices during the upcoming festive season. Pointing to the surge in demand for fish as a contributing factor, the Asunafo South MP emphasized the potential impact of this shortage on the cost of fish products.
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Opoku, while contributing to a debate on the approval of the budget for the Fisheries Ministry, voiced his concerns, highlighting the Ministry's failure to obtain the anticipated volumes of premix fuel required for distribution to fisherfolk. He explained that this, in turn, has compelled fishermen to procure this essential commodity directly from the market at elevated prices, ultimately impacting the cost of fish for consumers.
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Providing context to the issue, Opoku highlighted data revealing a significant gap between the targeted and actual supply of premix fuel. He underscored the Ministry's struggle to meet the demand, stating that out of the intended 107 million litres, only 25 million litres had been disbursed as of the end of September. He also cited forex-related challenges, attributing the reluctance of suppliers to provide premix fuel to foreign exchange losses, resulting in a shortfall directly impacting fishers' access to this critical resource.
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Addressing the situation, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had previously outlined the rollout of a digital canoe identification card system to purchase premix fuel, aimed at mitigating the complexities surrounding fuel acquisition. The new digital system seeks to streamline the process, eliminate hoarding, and address challenges associated with premix fuel procurement. Fisherfolk would be able to access the required quantity of premix fuel directly at the pumps using their linked digital Canoe Identification Cards, with the generated data vital for reordering and real-time tracking of orders and fueling transactions.
According to officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, this digital automation system incorporates various modules enabling stakeholders to monitor orders, transportation, delivery, and fueling transactions in real-time, significantly enhancing efficiency and transparency.
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