Sekondi MP supports Nkotompo fishermen whose nets were allegedly destroyed by Fisheries Minister with approved ones as closed season ends

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi, Lawyer Andrew Egyapa Mercer has supported fishermen at Nkotompo with GHC40,000 to purchase approved fishing nets as the 2024 closed season ends.

The gesture is to support some eleven fishermen who had their fishing nets burnt.

It would be recalled that residents and fishermen of Nkotompo in the Sekondi Constituency were left seething with anger and baying for the blood of the Fisheries Minister and Western Region Minister, after the two reportedly led a night operation to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices in the community.

The duo – Mavis Hawa Koomson and Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah led personnel from the Fisheries Enforcement Unit to seize and burn several monofilament nets, as scores of fishers watched on helplessly.

Following the rants of the fishermen, the Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Lawyer Andrew Egyapa Mercer had interactions with them and promised to intervene.

The beginning of August marks the end of the month-long closed season for canoe and inshore fishers in Ghana by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development. It is believed that the season serves as a biological rest period for fish to reproduce and restock.

Fishermen in Nkotompo who had their fishing nets burnt had raised issues about how they would go back to their fishing expedition as the closed season comes to an end.

“I had the information that their nets have been burnt by the Minister as part of the fight against unregulated fishing. I decided to get them approved nets to enable them to go back to fishing when the season ends. They have been tasked to purchase approved nets so that they can happily return to business,” Lawyer Andrew Egyapa Mercer told Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, the host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa Morning Show.

Chief of Nkotompo, Nana Kofi received the cash on behalf of the fishermen and promised to ensure approved nets are purchased for all those affected by the unfortunate incident.

“We are happy with our MP for this assistance, he promised and has fulfilled. We shall ensure approved fishing nets are purchased with the cash donation to avoid future re-occurrence,” Nana Kofi, Chief of Nkotompo indicated.

By Eric Gyetuah