Residents of Nkotompo in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly have been left seething with anger and baying for the blood of the Fisheries Minister and Western Region Minister, after the two led a night operation reportedly to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices in the community.
The duo – Mavis Hawa Koomson and Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah – on Monday night led personnel from the Fisheries Enforcement Unit to seize and burn several monofilament nets, as scores of fishers watched on helplessly.
TV3’s Western Region cameraman, Ebenezer Atiemo, reports that the fishers showed him some of the burnt nets, insisting that they do not fall short of the standard, and challenged the two ministers, saying the operation was uncalled for.
The residents fumed and complained that, after contracting huge sums of loans with huge interest rates, without any support from government, the least government could do is to allow them to operate in peace.
The community has vowed to retaliate against government in the upcoming general elections.
By Ebenezer Atiemo
