Tema canoe operators urge GPHA to rescind decision
Boat owners and fishmongers at the Tema canoe beach have called on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to rescind its decision to lease out the parcel of land where they operate their business to an international palm-oil processing company, Wilmar Limited, to prevent the reoccurrence of any confrontation.
According to them, over 11,000 people would be out of employment while poverty will be on the rise , if the GPHA carried out its plan.
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The fishermen made the call at a sensitisation forum organised by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to address their concerns.
Some youth and fishermen went on the rampage on September 17, 2010 and destroyed property running into thousands of Ghana cedis in an attempt to protect the land from being developed by the company.
They claimed that two people, Emmanuel Mantey Martey 26, and Annan Abo, 24, died during the shoot-out on the day of the incident and called on the authorities to release the over 23 suspects who were still in police custody to ease tension in the area.
The fishermen vowed to chase out any one who would make any attempt to develop the land.
They claimed that fishermen and the government were partners in development, hence the need for peace to prevail in the area.
The forum was attended by fishermen and fishmongers from the area, who made various contributions.
A contributor, Woleinye Korkor, said their great grandfathers lived in Tema at the Old Meridian Hotel site long before being re-located to their present place .
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She noted that during the 50 years celebration of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) , Ghanaians were deceived into believing that Tema was celebrating 50 years of existence, explaining that their great grandfathers lived in the area and were fishermen long before TDC was established to manage the city.
She said the beach stretches from Benin through Tema to Axim but Tema has been a converging point for many fishermen hence the presence of visiting fishermen swelling up the population of those involved in the industry.
Woleinye appealed to the government to step in and stop the GPHA from taking the land away from them, since that would lead to collapse of the fishing industry.
Another contributor Woleinye Naa Kale, said the fishermen had been cheated for too long, noting that 'this is the only land left for us to operate our businesses to cater for our children and households.'
Woleinye Kale said they would fight with their blood to recover the land.
The Management of GPHA was represented by the Public Affairs Manager , Mr Oscar Cudjoe. He called on the people to exercise restraint and stop any violence. He assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to stakeholders.
Mr Cudjoe said all wrong actions would be corrected to put to rest all matters which triggered the disturbances.