Take advantage of Fishermen Life Insurance policy - Sherry Ayittey
Ghanaian fishermen have been advised to take advantage of the government’s Fishermen Life Insurance policy to relieve them in the event of accidents. Under the policy, the government will pay the premium for the fishermen.
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The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Ms Sherry Ayittey, gave the advice during separate meetings with fisherfolk at Abotoase and Adidome in the Biakoye and Adidome districts last Thursday and Friday.
The visit of the minister was to enable her to interact and discuss some operational challenges of fishing in the Volta Lake with the fishermen and also inaugurate an eight-member fish planning committee to prepare for the upcoming national fish festival to be held in the Volta Region.
The insurance scheme
The fishermen life insurance scheme was piloted between January and April this year and some boat owners and crew members in the Greater Accra, Western, Central, Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Northern and Volta regions have already been insured.
Registered fishermen are entitled to compensation in the event of incapacitation, death and destruction of working tools in case disaster strikes.
The scheme will also provide avenue for capital accumulation in the event that no disaster occurs and will be paid to fishermen later in life.
No taxation
Madam Ayittey debunked assertions that the insurance policy was a ploy to tax fishermen who registered under the scheme.
“The insurance is in good faith to help you deal with challenges you go through to acquire inputs in case of accidents,” she said.
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In addition to the insurance policy, the minister mentioned that the ministry would institute a scholarship scheme by August this year to support brilliant children of fishermen.
She indicated that the government would this month assist fishermen who were interested in acquiring outboard motors to do so by paying half of the price.
Ms Ayittey spoke against the diversion of premix fuel meant for fishing activities and called on landing beach committee members to help stop the practice.
Watch committees
The ministry, she further said, would establish watch committees to not only check illegal fishing but also offer constant education on good fishing practices.
She also assured the fishermen that the proposed landing beach sites for Abotoase, Torkor and Dzemeni would be constructed before the elections.
The National President of the Inland Canoe Fishermen Council, Mr Joseph Agbeve Tetteh, said the council was working to have tree stumps removed from the lake for smooth fishing.
He announced that some Malian fishermen had taken over the Volta Lake and, therefore, called for the government’s assistance in addressing the issue.
The ministry presented aluminium pans and wire mesh to fishmongers to help them in their fish processing activities.