Takoradi, Nov 7, GNA - The Jomoro branch of the Nzema Youth Association has protested against the relocation of the Osagyefo Barge from Effasu-Mangyea to Tema by the government.

Mr Francis Armah Ehwie, a spokesman for the Association, said at a press conference that the government's decision is a "Gross discrimination and marginalisation against the Nzemas". He said the government would not have relocated the barge if it were located in another part of the country.

Mr Ehwie said the youth of Nzemaland saw the reasons given by the government for the relocation of the barge as deceptive and intangible. He said, "We, the youth of Nzemaland will continue to wonder about what sins our forefathers committed in the past to warrant such acute deprivation in the lands by successive governments".

"Even the body of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, from whom many of us derive inspiration, was taken from Nzemaland to Accra", Mr Ehwie said. He said the government has pledged to build a fishing harbour at the project site and also send a new barge in three years time.

Mr Ehwe said, "We want the public to be told how viable will the fishing harbour project be, considering the number of fishing trawlers in Ghana and the type of fishing activities in the area". He said the association did not accept any agreement reached between the chiefs of the area and the government on the barge because the youth were not part of the whole process.