Apam (Central Region) 8 May, ’98 Over 100 fishermen at Mumford in the Central Region have taken oath never to use dynamite, carbide or any dangerous explosive or chemicals for fishing. The oath swearing, which was witnessed by the chief fisherman for the town, Nana Akraman Effirim and some members of he regional branch of the Ghana National Fishermen’s council, is aimed at protecting human and marine life.
The exercise is being done in all coastal towns and villages in the region. Nana Effirim warned that any fisherman, who refuses to take an oath will not be allowed to do fishing in any coastal town in the region.
Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Nana Effirim said abuse of the sea has been a headache for chief fishermen and this was one of the measures proposed at their meetings to solve the problem.
When the exercise started, many fishermen opposed it but when they realised that the council was serious, they began co-operating on the use of authorised nets for fishing, Nana Effirim said, warning that the council has decided to confiscate authorised nets.
He appealed to the fish mongers to send fish suspected to have been caught with dynamite to the chief fisherman. gri
