The Ghanaian fishing neighborhood in Cote d’Ivoire, are calling on authorities for an envoy who’s effectively versed in fisheries to assist deal with their challenges.
President Mahama is but to call the ambassador for La Côte D’Ivoire. However, Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin says he intends to collaborate with the Ivorian Parliament to handle the fishermen’s plight.
About 80% of the roughly 3 million Ghanaians residing in La Cote D’Ivoire work within the fisheries sector. They complain that they face many challenges together with maltreatment and seizure of their catch by the Ivorian safety.
According to them, the earlier Ambassador from Ghana, failed to handle their issues, leaving them weak.
Rebecca Cudjoe, a devoted fishmonger, bemoaned the present state of affairs.
“It’s not a curse to travel, but our experience with the Ghana Embassy during the 8th Parliament made it feel that way. We’re appealing for a compassionate Ambassador who understands human struggles and will acknowledge our plight. We don’t want a repeat of the previous Parliament, where we derived no benefits from the Embassy. Instead, they required us to obtain identification cards, making us feel like they prioritized their own interests over our well-being. We need an Ambassador who genuinely cares about our welfare,” she mentioned.
Zimbabwe is a neighborhood in La Cote D’Ivoire, which hosts numerous Ghanaian fishermen. They additionally recount harrowing experiences of harassment and extortion by the Ivorian safety forces regardless of having all the required paperwork for his or her operations
“Upon returning from a fishing expedition, you’re often stopped by the police, who demand to see your documents. After complying, they’ll frequently ask for a portion of your catch, sometimes even boarding the boat to take what they want. Meanwhile, you’re required to obtain insurance licenses for the boat and pay fees for using the sea. However, despite fulfilling these obligations, if an accident occurs, you’re left without support. This has made it challenging to recruit sailors from Ghana, as they’re reluctant to work in a system where the Ivorian security forces take a significant portion of their earnings,” one other fisherman said.
Joseph Cobbinah shared his ideas on the influence of the shut season on their livelihood.
“Initially, when Ghana closed its seas, it didn’t affect Côte d’Ivoire. However, things changed when former Minister Hawa Koomson met with the Ivorian government to synchronize the closure dates. Prior to this agreement, Ghanaian fishermen would often come to Cot D’Ivoire waters to fish during their closed season, but now that we have the same closure dates, it’s impacting our work. We plan to appeal for a solution to this issue,” Mr Cobbinah mentioned.
In a big improvement, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has assured them of his dedication to discovering an enduring answer to their challenges.
“I recognize you bringing this challenge to my consideration, and I’ll positively escalate it to the brand new minister and the President. Our neighborhood closely depends on fishing, with a staggering 80% of Ghanaian residents right here engaged within the trade. Given the importance of fishing to our native financial system and livelihoods, it’s essential that we don’t have a simultaneous closure of fishing actions, as it will have extreme penalties on our folks,“ he mentioned.
At a neighborhood engagement, he pledged to collaborate with the Ivorian Parliament to handle their plight.
“I believe that if the two governments work together, we can effectively resolve this issue. As one people, sharing a common heritage, our collaboration will yield positive results. The arrangements being made from Parliament to Parliament are a step in the right direction, benefiting all of us,” he added.