A comprehensive recovery and reform campaign to transform the premix fuel regime, following serious financial mismanagement and breaches, indicates identified total irregularities worth GH¢27.7million.
The reform, initiated by government, is to transform the sector and deal with governance anomalies in the 53 percent Community Development Fund (CDF) which supports coastal fishing communities.
The campaign was necessitated by an audit conducted by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA) which revealed that, between 2017 and 2024, 132 Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) failed to account for funds received from premix fuel allocations – resulting in a loss of GH¢13.7million.
Sector minister Emelia Arthur said government has positioned the audit and recovery drive as a turning point for the premix programme, emphasising transparency, accountability and long-term reform.
The audit report detailed widespread failures including unauthorised withdrawals, non-compliance with approved fund distribution formulas and poor documentation.
These lapses prevented resources from being allocated to essential community projects; including drainage systems to address flooding, toilets to combat open defecation, schools to improve educational access and other infrastructure critical for coastal fishing communities.
The ministry said these shortcomings represent a severe setback for development in underdeveloped coastal areas, which rely heavily on these resources to improve living conditions and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This government will not look away from the institutional weaknesses we inherited. We are taking firm steps to recover public funds, restore confidence in the premix system and ensure that resources meant for fishing communities are properly protected,” the minister said.
Administrator-National Premix Secretariat, Ebow Mensah, confirmed that recovery processes have commenced.
“Recoveries have started and structured repayment arrangements are being pursued where appropriate,” he said, adding that the audit provided both moral and legal authority to act decisively and address long-standing governance gaps.
The ministry and premix secretariat have issued demand notices to the affected LBCs and are engaging them to ensure restitution and compliance.
In addition, serious cases are being referred for further action while governance structures at the landing-beach level are being restructured to tighten financial controls and oversight.
The MoFAD and National Premix Secretariat are implementing a suite of reforms designed to prevent future losses and ensure transparency.
Key among these measures are: introducing a nationwide Community Development Fund; an accountability and protection framework from February 2026 clearer signatory rules and mandatory reporting for all LBCs; alignment of CDF management with the Premix Fuel Automation System; enhanced training for LBC executives; and stricter compliance monitoring.
“These reforms mark a new chapter for the premix system. “Our focus is on protecting fisherfolk, recovering public funds and ensuring that mistakes of the past are not repeated,” Mensah said.
The reforms aim to ensure that premix revenues are reinvested in community development projects, directly contributing to SDGs related to poverty alleviation, education and clean water and sanitation.
Source: thebftonline.com
