Adina (V/R), June 23, GNA- Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister has urged fishermen to invest their gains in their children's education as a future security.

Mr Dzamesi said this while addressing the maiden "Layiyi Za" or smoked fish festival of the chiefs and people of Adina, a coastal community in the Ketu District, which had the theme "Promoting the Fishing Industry in Ketu". Lauding the birth of the festival as a means of promoting the development of the town, he asked the people to eschew bickering so as to reap the full benefits of the fishing industry, which he said employed about 90 percent of them. Togbe Gbemu II, Dufia of Adina, appealed to the government to assist with inputs to expand the fishing and salt industries in the area.

Mama Nuhepe II, Queen of Adina, who won a number of district and regional fish smoking awards, also urged the government to construct a fishing harbour with storage facilities at Adina to offset the perennial post harvest loses and to create jobs. Mr Samuel Quartey, a Deputy Director at the Fisheries Ministry said as an income earner, reaping 120 million dollars for the country last year and giving employment to 10 percent of the Ghanaians, the fishing industry was dear to the heart of government and is working hard to eliminate problems impeding the growth of the sector. He said seven million Euros had been secured and a Dutch Firm contracted by government to do feasibility studies and build a pilot fishing bay with storage facilities for replication in a number of coastal communities including Adina.

Mr Quartey said an Indian Firm was also in the process of constructing fibreglass boats on pilot basis, under a plan to face out the use of wooden boats in the industry. "Another Indian company would be assisting in the supply of safety gadgets to reduce accidents in the industry". Madam Comfort Ablormeti of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, advised women to access available micro-credit facilities to enhance their businesses.

Toghe Sri III, Regent of Awomezi, who was represented, appealed for the control of activities of major foreign fishing vessels in the country's waters so that they do not deplete Ghanaian waters of fish to the disadvantage of the national economy.