The fishing industry in Ghana is calling for urgent changes to the way Premix Fuel, a critical resource, is managed.
Senanu F. Dekutse, a downstream petroleum consultant, has outlined key reforms in an open letter shared with Brand Focus Africa to the newly appointed Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, urging her to take decisive steps to address longstanding challenges.
The first issue highlighted is the burden of subsidies. Currently, the government subsidizes 50% of Premix Fuel costs, but this has become unsustainable. The delays in paying under-recoveries to Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) have caused frequent shortages, leaving fisherfolk stranded.
Mr. Dekutse proposed reducing the subsidy to 25% or removing it altogether, suggesting alternative ways to make the fuel affordable without overloading government finances.
Another pressing concern is the monopoly held by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). TOR’s inefficiencies have caused delays and unreliable supply of Premix Fuel.
To address this, Mr. Dekutse also proposed private refineries and major BDCs to be allowed to blend or directly import the fuel, with oversight from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). This, he said will introduce competition, lower costs, and improve reliability.
The letter also drew attention to inefficiencies in distribution. Ghost landing beaches, third-party diversions, and middlemen have worsened the availability of Premix Fuel. Mr. Dekutse, therefore, called for better monitoring systems to prevent these issues and ensure that the fuel reaches the fisherfolk who depend on it.
These challenges are not just technical issues—they impact thousands of Ghanaians who rely on fishing for their livelihoods. When fuel is scarce, fishermen cannot work, leading to financial hardship and disruptions to food supply chains, he underscored.
The proposed reforms aim to stabilize the system, making Premix Fuel more accessible and reliable for Ghana’s hardworking fisherfolk.
Emelia Arthur, recently sworn in as the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, has an opportunity to bring transformative change to the sector.