Fisheries Minister directs premix fuel price cap, warns of sanctions over overpricing

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has directed Landing Beach Committees across Ghana not to sell subsidised premix fuel above the approved price of GH¢180 per yellow “Kufour gallon,” warning that strict sanctions will be imposed on individuals and committees that violate the directive.

Speaking in a recorded public address to fisherfolk and stakeholders within the fisheries sector, the Minister emphasized that the government’s premix fuel subsidy programme was established to support artisanal fishermen and sustain livelihoods in coastal communities, not to enrich middlemen or committee members.

“Landing Beach Committees should not sell premix, the yellow Kufour gallon, beyond GH¢180. There will be consequences for failure to comply with this directive,” she stated.

According to the Minister, fuel pricing is determined by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) within a two-week pricing window. Under the current pricing structure, premix fuel should be sold at GH¢176.40 per gallon, although committees are permitted to round the figure up to GH¢180 for convenience.

Mrs Arthur noted that the fisheries sector remains a vital component of Ghana’s economy and food security, providing a significant source of nutrition and employment for millions of people.

“As you all know, fisheries is very important to Ghana. We depend on fisheries for our animal protein,” she said, adding that fish accounts for approximately 60 percent of the animal protein consumed nationwide.

The Minister explained that the government continues to subsidise premix fuel to help reduce operational costs for artisanal fishermen and ensure the sustainability of the fishing industry.

Under the current distribution system, Bulk Distribution Companies blend the fuel before it is supplied through Oil Marketing Companies to Landing Beach Committees, which are responsible for selling it directly to fishermen.

Mrs Arthur also cautioned committee members against accepting fuel deliveries that fall below the approved allocation. She instructed committees to verify all deliveries before signing official documentation.

“When the premix fuel arrives, a tanker is supposed to deliver 13,500 litres. If it is not 13,500 litres, the Landing Beach Committees should not sign the waybill,” she warned.

The Minister further disclosed that proceeds generated from premix fuel sales are intended to support development projects within fishing communities under existing regulations.

She explained that surplus revenue from each 13,500-litre tanker delivery is shared between the Community Development Fund and Landing Beach Committees, with 53 percent allocated to community projects and 47 percent retained by the committees.

“There should not be an instance that you have less than GH¢5,000 as the community development portion from one tanker delivery,” she stressed.

Mrs Arthur called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Members of Parliament, chief fishermen, and traditional leaders to closely monitor how community development funds are utilised to ensure accountability and transparency.

The directive forms part of broader reforms being implemented within Ghana’s premix fuel distribution system following concerns about fuel diversion, price manipulation, hoarding, and the alleged misuse of community development funds.

The Administrator of the National Premix Fuel Secretariat, Ebow Mensah, welcomed the Minister’s intervention and reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to improving transparency and efficiency in the sector.

The National Premix Fuel Secretariat, established under the National Premix Fuel Committee Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2233), oversees the distribution and management of subsidised premix fuel for artisanal fishermen and ensures that proceeds from fuel sales are channelled into community development initiatives.

In recent months, government has intensified efforts to reform the sector, including the recovery of unaccounted-for premix fuel funds and the restructuring of Landing Beach Committees across the country to improve governance and accountability.

The Fisheries Ministry has also warned that individuals found engaging in fuel diversion, hoarding, inflated pricing, or other illegal activities within the premix fuel distribution chain could face prosecution under Ghanaian law.