Fuel shortage has been a serious issue in the last few months leaving people with no choice but to go for desperate measures. Akateng community in the Upper Manya Krobo in Eastern Region, which mainly depends on fishing activities, are experiencing tough times as a result of premix fuel shortage.
While many fishermen have parked their canoes due to lack of fuel, others have turned to buying petrol and mixing it with engine oil to power their canoes and continue fishing. Fishing, an activity which once boosted the local economy of this area, is slowly fading away, affecting not only fishers, but also the source of livelihood for the entire community.
Speaking with Starr News, the fishermen lamented that they no longer have access to premix fuel and this has been affecting their business.
We don’t have access to premix fuel, the long shortage is affecting our business so we are appealing to the government to ensure that there is a supply of premix fuel.
Another fisher said;
Now the fishes are in deep waters so we have to ferry into the deep water to fish before we can have a good harvest but there is no premix for us. When the premix is abundant nobody can hoard but because supply is erratic people are able to hoard and smuggle the same. During the NDC time the distribution outlets were over 10 so we had regular supply but it’s now 5 even with that we are not receiving supply.
