Fisher folks and commercial boats owners in Dzemeni, a fishing community along the Volta Lake in the South Dayi district of the Volta region, have resolved to dock their boats and nets in an indefinite strike action, Tuesday.
The action, according to David Gbetey, Secretary of the Inland Fishermen and Boat Union at Dzemeni is to protest the perennial shortage of pre mix fuel for their operations.
Mr. Gbetey said the community use to receive two tankers of premix fuel every week, but alleged that a directive from the District Chief Executive Kafui Bekui, one tanker have been diverted to another station.
The situation, he said has brought untoward hardship onto boat operators, who are running at a lost, as middlemen popularly referred to as ‘magomago’ take advantage to sell the product to them at exorbitant prices, compelling them to resort to the use of ‘super’, to power the boats.
He also disclose that a letter sent to the DCE to notify him about the union’s earlier decision to embark on a demonstration was not responded to, hence the resolve to go on strike.
The union has since been running radio announcements to notify their counterparts in other island communities about the intended strike.
If carried through, traders who cross the lake from the Affram Plains to sell food stuff at the Gemeni market will be stranded, as there will be no commercial boats to ferry them and their commodities across the lake.
Recalcitrant boat operators who defy the directive, according to Mr. Gbetey will be liable to a spot fine of GHc 1000 and a three month ban.
The DCE, Kafui Bekui has however, refuted the allegation saying he do not control the discharge of premix fuel from the headquarters in Accra.
