A group of fishers has appealed for Government support as fishing on the Weija reservoir is fast becoming risky, putting their lives in danger and denying them their daily income.
The Weija reservoir upstream has become a hotspot for piracy where armed men in canoes rob fishers of their catch and personal belongings, including fishing gear. This practice has decayed over the years due to ongoing territorial fishing warfare where fishing communities upstream prevent fishers downstream from fishing in their territory.
Mr. Andrews Tetteh-Kietey, the Assistant Chief fisherman of Tomefa, revealed in an interview that the ongoing dispute had created an enterprise for some recalcitrant youth around Machigani, Domeabra, and Agbozome within the Weija reservoir enclave to commit atrocious crimes.
Casualties have persisted for four years
Mr. Tetteh-Kietey explained that in instances where a community member is attacked for supposedly invading the “territorial waters” of others, the leadership of the community has to resort to the Police or dialogue with the chiefs to have their confiscated properties released.
“Sometimes we report to Amanfro police station, Accra, or Anyaa police station. In most cases where the traditional authorities do not sanction these attacks, I observed that fishermen, aside from losing their belongings, including canoes, usually get exposed to drowning, sustaining serious injuries, or even death at the hands of local pirates on the water body.”
Mr. Tetteh-Kietey
Over the last four years, he said about eight casualties were sustained, with the previous four casualties sustained this year near Weija.
“I am of the view that the water body is vested in the hands of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to be managed, and for that matter, no one should claim ownership of the water body. This river helps many of us look after our children to attend their education, but the riverside people sometimes make it challenging to fish in the waters.”
Mr. Tetteh-Kietey
He, therefore, appealed to Government to intervene with needed steps to improve security and end the territorial feud among communities surrounding the water body.
Tomefa Chief explains reasons for constant confrontations
Narrating the ordeal, Mr. Kofi Donkor, a fisherman, said, “our fishing nets were destroyed about two weeks ago by some individuals whom they confronted. The confrontation led to a fight that warranted the arrest of some fisherfolk.”
Adding to the discussion, Mr. Tetteh Dotse, the Tomefa Chief, explained that there were instances where for customary reasons, fishing would not be allowed on certain days or within specific periods on the water body. So anyone found guilty would have his fishing gear seized.
But for the recent attacks, he noted that there was no such information about an “operation” and found the trend very worrying.
He then called on the Government to help the community by providing potable water, waste collection bins, and a good road network.
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