Some fishermen at the Jamestown Fishing Harbour have threatened to stage a protest if the harbour’s cold storage facility is not operational by December 31, 2026.
The fishermen say the prolonged delay in making the facility functional has left them struggling to preserve their catch, resulting in significant post-harvest losses despite increased fish landings.
Speaking to Accra-based Citi News, the Chief Fisherman at Jamestown, Nii Armah Wulu, said the cold storage facility had remained non-functional since the harbour was opened to the public, depriving fishermen of an essential means of preserving excess fish.
He explained that some fishermen had resorted to drying surplus fish along the streets to prevent their catch from spoiling.
However, the practice was stopped following concerns raised by city authorities, further worsening the challenges facing the fishing community.
According to Wulu, repeated assurances from harbour management that efforts were underway to operationalise the facility had done little to ease the fishermen’s frustration, as they continued to struggle with inadequate storage options.
He warned that the fishermen would resort to a symbolic protest by wearing red bands if the facility remained non-operational by the end of the year.
“Management continues to assure us that efforts are underway to operationalise the facility. However, frustrated by the prolonged delay, we have resolved to wear red bands in protest if the cold storage facility is not operational by the end of the year,” he said.
The fishermen are calling on the relevant authorities to expedite efforts to make the facility operational, saying its availability would help preserve excess fish and reduce post-harvest losses.
