<<Print>>

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture is pushing for a specialised court to deal with those who infringe on the laws and regulations governing the fisheries sector in the country. It has, therefore, appealed to the Chief Justice to set up fisheries courts to help prosecute cases of abuse, especially those by foreign vessels. The Communications Specialist of the West Africa Regional Fisheries Project (WARFP), Dr Ato Conduah, disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra. Sanctions "We are appealing to the Chief Justice to set up these fisheries courts. The Attorney General�s Department is ready to prosecute such cases so that such violations of our fisheries laws by foreign entities who are not licensed to operate in Ghana would be dealt with to ensure that our natural resource in the sea is preserved for Ghanaians and Ghanaians only, except where a foreign entity is licensed to come and participate," Dr Conduah said. He said just as sanctions were applied in other jurisdictions where fishing laws were violated, the same should occur in Ghana. Dr Conduah explained that such sanctions were to drive home the point that illegal fishing was not tolerated within the waters of Ghana and urged the courts in the country to take interest in such matters. He continued that without applying sanctions, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture�s efforts would come to naught, "because in Ghana, the laws exist, but the enforcement is always a challenge". Training He said the ministry was training the Judicial Service and the Attorney General's Department to equip them to handle cases of infractions of the fisheries laws. "This is to ensure that Ghana is recognised as a country where fishing is properly regulated, for better results," Dr Conduah said.