Date: February 15, 1010

Attempted Disposal Of A Parcel Of Land Used By Canoe Fishermen/Fisher Folks And Local People To A Malasian Interest

About two weeks ago, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) informed the chief fishermen of plans to give out a parcel of land, including the ‘5’ beach, to a Malaysian interest to build palm oil silos that would be piped through the sea for offshore loading into waiting ships. Whilst in principle, we are not against the GPHA helping to establish palm oil silos and farms in Tema, and indeed, welcome and support the idea, we believe that, locating it at the ‘5’ beach and the adjoining parcel of land will impact negatively on the livelihoods of our people for the following reasons: 1. It is on the said parcel of land that that our local canoe fishermen dry and mend their nets as well as repair their canoes. 2. This same parcel of land serves as a platform for fish processing by our women – drying, salting and smoking. It is, for example, estimated that 65% of anchovies (Keta School Boys) processed in Ghana come from this parcel of land. Anchovies from this parcel of land have found their way into various soups and stews, not only in Ghana but also in Togo and Benin. This has been the situation for decades and the local economy, particularly of Tema Manhean and other coastal fishing towns in general, are driven by the fortunes on this parcel of land. 3. Part of this parcel of land also serves as a market for our women. 4. The adjoining ‘5’ beach, which is just about 80 metres long is the only swimmable beach for the entire community. It also hosts a shrine where annual rituals are performed as a precursor for the annual Homowo festival. It also hosts a museum of the bones of a whale that landed here some decades ago. 5. There are plans by the fisher folks to build a pre-school on part of the said parcel of land to ensure that parents, especially porters, have their children enrolled in school whilst they eke a living. 6. There are plans by the fisher folks to establish a health post to carter for the health needs of those who suffer various accidents during the course of their work. 7. In addition, the fisher folks intend to build a storage facility on part of that same parcel of land. Items 5, 6, and 7 have been discussed with GPHA in the past. Clearly, ceding the said parcel of land to the Malaysian interest will lead to the following: 1. Loss of livelihood. Within the context of vulnerability, our fisher folks will lose: a. Human Capital (i.e. local fishing knowledge and skills, the capacity to do genuine work and to adapt to the environment) developed over time and the opportunity to give basic education to the children of working mothers. b. Natural/Physical Capital (i.e. land and aquatic resources as well as environmental services) that sustains their very existence. In the end, it will lead to the loss of maitainance site for the mending of nets, canoes and other related maitainance activities. It will also lead to the loss of recreational and tourism activities on the ‘5’ beach. The ‘5’ beach is not only the swimmable site available to our people but also the only site suitable for the regular NUTEKPO festival. The NUTEKPO festival is a canoe racing and regatta games among the fisher folks of Nungua, Tema and Kpone. This parcel of land must remain an inter-generational capital for our people. Losing it for good will be unfair to generations yet unborn. c. Social capital (established culture, networks and connections among the fishermen, local fish processors, sellers and buyers, kinship, relations of trust and mutual support, collective representation) developed over time. In particular, it will lead to the loss of a museum and shrine with an attendant negative impact on our culture. Our fisher folks will also be denied the opportunity to build a pre-school, establish a health post and a storage facility. d. Financial capital (i.e. savings, formal and informal credit/debt facilities, remittances and wages) with an attendant loss of income. 2. Possible spillage of palm oil into the sea and a consequent pollution of the environment. Both the GPHA and the said Malaysian interest have not presented an Environmental Impact Assessment report, which is a requirement for such ventures. 3. Possible sea and land use conflict as access to the sea and land resource which could generate a conflict between the fisher folks, swimmers and the said Malaysian interest. 4. Aggravation of an already precarious traffic situation with the addition of oil tankers joining the long land trains on the only road that links the Tema Manhean Township with the rest of Ghana.

The brief framework enumerated above addresses a whole range of policy issues relevant to the poor, not just access to health and education, but issues of access to finance, markets, and personal and food security. It emphasises sustainability of employment and income with a people centred and participatory approach and capacity to contribute to the economy at multiple levels - from local to national and international - in partnership with the public and private sectors. It also addresses the concept of sustainable development, which meets the needs of our present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

GPHA may have all the best of intentions for this project and we wholly support them. But it should not be at the expense of the numerous people whose only source of livelihood is linked to this piece of land. We, therefore, appeal to you to advocate on our behalf to have the proposed palm oil silos and pipes sited at the western end of the port near the western entrance which is less congested and does not have fishermen/folks working on it.

Sincerely,

Signed Richster Nii Amarh Amarfio (Executive Secretary)