The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, through its Minister, Mrs Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, has handed over five vehicles (all trucks) to the 35th National Best Fishers at a ceremony in Accra.
The trucks are prizes they won during the 35th National Farmers Day, which was held in December 2019 on the theme ‘Enhancing small-scale agriculture towards agribusiness development.’
In all, a total of 150 best farmers and fishermen across the country were honoured.
The categories of the awards are as follows: Joseph Hemans Asmah, from KEEA, Central Region, the national best fisher; Nana Kwamina Bedu, national best, Marine Fisher; Richard D Fran-ang (Nadowli-Kaleo), National Best Inland Fisher; John Coffie, Upper Denkyira West, Central Region, National Best Aqua culturist; and Eva Atitsogbe, South Dayi, Volta Region, National Best Fish Processor.
Mrs Quaye, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Krowor Constituency, while presenting the vehicles to the awardees at the Fisheries Commission, said the ministry needed to ensure that all documentations were intact before giving the vehicles, hence the lapse since December.
“In December last year during the national farmers day, we had some awardees from the fisheries sector. After the award ceremony, we needed to do our protocols to assure that all our documents are intact, so that we officially hand the awards to the award winners,” she told the DAILY HERITAGE after the presentation.
“My advice to the fishermen is that when we go on fishing, we should observe all the precautionary measures against Covid-19, social distancing, regular hand washing and wearing of face mask when going out,” she urged.
Being national best fisher no joke
Mr Asmah said, “Being the national overall best fisher is not a joke; you will need to work hard. I have toiled hard to reach this position and I am glad to be at this level.
They have the categories of selecting the award winners. I started this work 36 years ago and during my elementary education. I went to fisheries school so it was there that I developed the interest in fishery business. I have done a lot of work.
“I have farms, laboratory all through this fishing work; I have citrus farm .I have been able to invest in my kids’ education all through the fishery work. I have also helped people within my area to succeed,” Mr Asmah said.
He, on behalf of fellow award winners and the fisher folks in general, said, “I will thank the most high God and President Nana Akufo Addo, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the great work that they have done, not forgetting the team that went round to do this fabulous work.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Muntalla Inusah