New Takoradi (W/R), Nov. 19, GNA - Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries and Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi on Monday cut the sod for the commencement of constructional work on a 1.1 million Euro state of the art cold storage facility at New Takoradi. She said similar projects would be undertaken at Shama, Dixcove, Axim and Half Assini.

Mrs Asmah said the projects would be financed by the Spanish Government.

She said the cold storage facilities would be provided with standby electricity generators.

Mrs Asmah said the facilities are to assist in the preservation of fish for the lean season and to help stabilize the price of fish. She urged fishermen and fishmongers to patronize the facilities. Mr Kwesi Blay, Deputy Western Regional Minister, assured the people that the project would be completed on schedule. He said although Mrs Asmah was not contesting the Parliamentary election, her successor would continue with the project. Mr Blay asked the chiefs and people of the area to support the contractor as it is a community project.

He expressed concern that some fishermen were selling their allocation of premix fuel to fuel filling stations, adding that, reports indicate that the premix fuel were mixed with petrol and sold to unsuspecting motorists. He said premix fuel is subsidized by the government and should be used by fishermen for fishing. Mr Blay appealed to fishermen to endeavour to obey the fisheries laws of the country. Nana Ekow Ackon, a Chief Fishermen of the area, called on the authorities to assist to stop school children from fishing during bumper season.

He expressed worry about some children who left school and engaged in fishing and other activities at the beach during the bumper season at the expense of their studies.