Accra, Feb. 22, GNA - The Ministry of Fisheries on Tuesday donated a double Cabin Nissan Pick-up valued 24,000 dollars and 38 million cedis worth of fishing gear to the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (NICFC) and a 43 year-old fisherman respectively at a ceremony in Accra. Mr Sam K. Adisenu, the fisherman, who has six children, on October 25, 2002 lost all his fishing gear during a heavy storm at Keta. Some of the items, Mr Adisenu received are fishing nets, an outboard motor and assorted ropes.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister for Fisheries, said the Ministry had been collaborating with the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council in training and developing fisheries in Ghana along the Volta Lake. Mrs Asmah noted that fishing, which played an important part in the economy, had been neglected over the past years, thus the need to assist them.

She said government was working on policies and strategies that would enhance and address the needs of the various associations under her ministry.

"We need to see the fishing industry grow, we need to help fishermen and fishmongers in their work so that fishing stock would increase in the country."

She appealed to NICFC to put the vehicle to good use and asked the council to approach her ministry for help whenever the need arose. "We believe these equipment would relieve Mr Adisenu and enable him to begin a new life so that he can also cater for his family." Mr Dumegah Kwamitse Kaledzi, chairman, NICFC, pledged to ensure maintenance of the vehicle.

Flight Lieutenant Miltiades G. Tackey (Rtd), President of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, on behalf of Mr Adisenu thanked the Ministry for its support.