Sekondi, March 20, GNA - Mr. Francis Ackah, Engineering Manager of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC), said the activities of fishermen around the oil rig at Cape Three Points could cost the nation between 900 dollars and 1,600 dollars daily.

He said any stoppage of the operation incurred cost because the entire system had to be shut down for divers and other technical support team to be dispatched to re-examine the pipes and disentangle any fishing nets tied to it.

Mr. Ackah said this at a press conference organised jointly by the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC), GNPC and Kosmos Gas. In attendance were chief fishermen from all fishing communities in the region.

Mr. Ackah said some fishermen had been tying their nets to the base of the rig in anticipation of good harvest and that was creating serious problems for the entire operation.

He said the slightest move of the rig could spell disaster not only for the 130 workers aboard the rig, but also lead to spillage, serious environmental problems and even deaths. He said a new rig that would soon be installed does not use anchors but uses thrusters to fasten it adding that the entire system is computerised and the slightest move could collapse it. Mr. Ackah said the ongoing oil exploration at Cape Three Points was 65 kilometres off shore and it was too dangerous for the fishermen to go there for fishing expeditions.

He said the oil was for the entire nation and everyone must work towards protecting the national interests.

Commodore Frank Daley of the Sekondi Naval Base said all ships must keep a one nautical mile distance from the ships undertaking special operations.

He said it was illegal, dangerous and irresponsible for any fisherman to go close to the oil rig. Commodore Daley said the navy would dispatch some personnel to the rig to ward of adventurous fishermen from flouting the directive and damaging the rig.

He said safety and obedience should be the watchwords for all sea farers and fishermen were expected to abide by them. Commander Daley said the navy was not interested in arresting people but if fishermen continually violated maritime rules, naval personnel would be compelled to take their photographs, arrest and prosecute them.

He said it was too expensive for any nation to detail naval personnel to guard an oil rig but his men would do their best to safeguard the national interest.

He urged the fishermen to stay away from the intake point of the Aboadzi Thermal Plant, the West African Gas Pipeline and the Saltpond Oilfield for their own safety.

Mr. George Sarpong, Corporate Affairs Manager of Kosmos, said the activities of the fishermen were slowing down their work and this could affect the nation if not checked.

He said several employment opportunities in the housing, hospitality, catering, industrial and business fields would be opened when the operations begun and any act that would sabotage the operation should be stopped.

Nana Conduah, President of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council said; ''we feel ashamed that some of our own people have been flouting the directives and using the legs of the rigs to harvest fish". He said series of meetings have been held by the fishermen and the various stakeholders and were surprised that the fishermen had flouted the directive.

Nana Conduah appealed to the RCC to forgive them for the practice and pledged to work seriously to put an end to the practice. Mr. Francis Eshun of the Inshore Fisheries Association said most of the canoes that went there were mostly interested in big fishes and that they had also advised their members against fishing near the rigs.