Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, has urged former President John Dramani Mahama to avoid politicizing the fisheries sector and making promises he can’t fulfill.
Her comments came in response to Mahama’s recent statements regarding the closed fishing season for canoe and artisanal fisherfolk, which she described as unfortunate.
Speaking to the media after a stakeholder engagement in Accra, Koomson emphasized that politicizing the policy would undermine its benefits to the fishing community. She argued that Mahama’s proposal to exclude artisanal fishermen from the exercise is impractical.
“I hear the former president going around to say that when he comes back, he is going to abolish the closed season. I let them [the fishermen] know that it is a law. So I did not even create it. It was the NDC that made the law. And they observed it in 2016,” Koomson explained. “I am only continuing what is there because it has become a policy. I want to plead with the former president that he has been in the seat before and he is a former president. When he is before the people and making utterances, he should be very careful because things that you cannot do, you don’t promise them.”
Meanwhile, Mahama, the NDC flagbearer, has promised a significant investment in digital job creation if he wins the 2024 general elections. He pledged to invest $3 billion in digital jobs, emphasizing the NDC’s commitment to leveraging digital innovation to combat unemployment and stimulate economic growth.
“Our vision is to create a robust digital ecosystem that will foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation. By investing $3 billion in digital jobs, we aim to equip our young people with the skills and tools they need to thrive in the 21st-century economy,” Mahama stated.
Additionally, Mahama vowed to prioritize reviving the country’s traditional export sector, particularly cocoa farming. He stressed the importance of providing incentives to cocoa farmers to boost exports and capitalize on improved world market prices. He also criticized the current administration for its failure to develop new oil wells, especially during a global shift towards green energy.
“We will also increase production in our oil and gas sector. The last eight years have been wasted without one single oil well brought on stream,” Mahama lamented.