Fishermen at the Jamestown Fishing Harbour have given authorities until December 31, 2026, to make a cold storage facility at the harbour operational, threatening a protest if the deadline is missed.
The fishermen say the prolonged delay in putting the facility into service has left them struggling to preserve their catch, resulting in post-harvest losses despite a bumper harvest.
Chief Fisherman at Jamestown, Nii Armah Wulu, said the cold store had remained non-operational since the harbour was opened to the public, depriving fishing communities of an essential facility for preserving excess fish.
Speaking to Citi News, he said the situation had become increasingly frustrating, particularly when fishermen landed more fish than they could immediately sell.
According to him, some fishermen resorted to drying surplus fish along the streets to prevent their catch from going to waste. However, the practice was stopped following concerns raised by city authorities, leaving them with fewer options for managing excess supplies.
Wulu said repeated assurances from management that steps were being taken to operationalise the facility had failed to address the fishermen’s concerns, as the delay continued to affect their livelihoods.
He warned that the fishermen would wear red bands as a sign of protest if the cold store was not functioning 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 the necessary work to make the facility operational and help reduce losses associated with the inability to preserve excess fish.
Their planned protest would serve as a demonstration of their frustration over the delay and their demand for a lasting solution to the challenges of fish preservation at the harbour.
