Elmina: Hundreds of fishers from the Central, Western, and Greater Accra regions on Friday staged a demonstration to demand urgent dredging of the Elmina Harbour, citing growing threats to their livelihoods and the safety of their vessels. The protest, which began around 1000 hours, followed the recent sinking of the harbour's second-largest fishing vessel, Joy George. The incident has intensified calls for immediate remedial action.
According to Ghana News Agency, Elmina Harbour, a major hub for the artisanal fishing industry, serves as a landing and operational base for hundreds of canoe and boat operators. Despite an £85 million rehabilitation and expansion project completed in 2023 to improve marine access and facilities, fishermen say severe operational challenges persist due to heavy sandbar formation and sedimentation in the basin. The buildup of sandbars along canoe and boat routes has made navigation and docking increasingly dangerous, limiting access for larger vessels and heightening accident risks.
The sinking of Joy George, which reportedly struck an underwater boulder before taking in water and submerging, underscored these dangers. No lives were lost. The fisherfolk stressed that without regular dredging, the harbour would gradually lose its ability to accommodate large vessels, reducing catch volumes, increasing vessel damage risks, and undermining both incomes and food security. They, therefore, urged the government to prioritise dredging to restore safe depths and maintain the Elmina Harbour as an efficient fishing port.
Their concerns also highlighted broader anxieties over the sustainability of the regional fishing industry, which supports thousands of jobs and contributes significantly to the local economy. The Government has pledged further improvements to the harbour, including modern facilities and protective breakwaters. However, the fishermen insist that consistent maintenance, especially dredging, is essential to safeguarding the investments already made.
In response, an official of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), who requested anonymity, assured demonstrators that government remained committed to dredging the harbour. He explained that procurement processes had been initiated but were delayed due to the change of government, requiring a restart of procedures. 'Procurement for the dredging began some time ago, but the government transition caused a halt, and we had to restart the process.' 'Thorough evaluations are now ongoing, and I can assure you that dredging the port remains a government priority,' the official said.
