Accra, Sept. 9, GNA - Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, on Tuesday expressed government's unflinching commitment to address concerns of the fishing industry.

"What the Ministry is now doing is to tackle the challenges from their basis, in order to provide a strong foundation to develop the industry," she said.

Mrs Asmah said this at press conference in Accra in reaction to statements that government was not concerned about the plight of fishermen and that the industry was on the verge of collapse. She said the creation of the Ministry, the first in Ghana's history, and its elevation to a Cabinet status should be ample evidence for any person to make any negative assertion. "For this reason, even the chiefs and chief fishermen in the fishing communities have sent a request to President John Agyekum Kufuor to thank him for establishing the Ministry," she added. The Minister said to further demonstrate government's commitment plans were far advanced for the construction of two fishing harbours and 12 landing sites from Keta in the east to Axim in the west at 148 million dollars to address the infrastructure needs of fishermen. She said construction for ice plants and refrigeration facilities for six fishing communities would also begin in October. Mrs Asmah said a seven-million euros Spanish grant would help reduce post-harvest losses to enable the fishermen to sell their fish at competitive prices.

She stated that the Ministry was also providing fishermen with alternative source of livelihood in order to reduce their dependence on fishing for their income, so that the fishes could grow fully before they were harvested.

Mrs Asmah also announced the establishment of a 16 million-dollar fishing college at Mumford in the Central Region, to train the fishermen, especially the youth to acquire technology-based knowledge. She said this was necessary since the fishing school at Kpando in the Volta region only provided skills in net mending and canoe maintenance.

The Minister hinted that discussions for a Fisheries and Aqua Culture Policy were also ongoing through the support of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and stakeholders.