The government of Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aqua-Culture Development through the Alternative Livelihood Empowerment Programme, have donated a variety of hand-skilled equipments to fisherfolks in the Central Region after taking them through an intensive artisan training on dressmaking, hairdressing and barbering.

The donation comes as an alternative avenue in finding a lasting solution to the daily bread of fisherfolks across the country during closed season.

The donated items comprises of 2,200 sawing machines, 2,600 hairdryers and 2,470 barbering kits, amounting to some 7,270 equipments. 

Special Aide to the Fisheries Minister, on behalf of Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, donated the items to the Regional Coordinating Council to be handed over to leadership of the region's fisherfolks.

Nana Owusu Acheampong, the Special Aide to the Fisheries Minister in a media engagement, recounted that over 8,000 fisherfolks have been trained for the programme through which over 7,000 hand-skilled items have been issued to be given to artisanal fisherfolks in the Central Region.

Hon. Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister on her account, expressed excitement over the fact that the training for fisherfolks did not only cater for women but also men who have grown the interest in barbering, dressmaking, and hairdressing.

She again beseeched fisherfolks to put the donated items into use and not use it to decorate their rooms or sell them, which will defeat the purpose to which they were given.

Some fisherfolks following the donation, lauded the presidency and the Fisheries Minister for the support, but begged of the Fisheries Minister to keenly follow distribution of the items, since the sharing of such items previously saw many of them not receiving of the items, particularly the items given during closed season.

Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan