The purpose of the meeting was to throw more light on the premix fuel automation system and also seek their opinion and contribution to start the project. The meeting was held in Accra on 28th January, 2022.
Giving her speech at the meeting, the Minister in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, disclosed that the Automated Premix Fuel Distribution System is a fuel management and tank gauging system designed to enhance the effective and efficient management of premix fuel.
According to her, the System consists of PSS 5000 Forecourt Controller, TLS4 Automatic Tank Gauge, Payment Termina (TR1000), Tag Reader, Printer and Remote Monitoring. She explained that under the fully automated premix fuel digitization initiative, fishermen will be obliged to buy premix fuel using their canoe identification cards which will be credited with the subsided amount of fuel need at sea.
“Ministry had not invited you to push the idea onto you, we are rather to take you through the initiative, its benefits and your thoughts as well” Said Hawa Koomson
Hon. Moses Anim, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, emphasized on the relevance of Premix fuel in sustaining the fishing activities in the country.
He said the automation system will help improve data on fishers, determine the actual premix
consumption, monitor the distribution and sale of premix fuel, reduce the complex payment
processes and eliminate premix fuel diversions.
The provision of the automated system according to Hon. Anim, is part of Government’s digitalisation agenda to improve effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery, adding that automating premix fuel distribution forms an integral part of the Ministry’s (MoFAD) strategy to modernize the fisheries sector to enhance its contribution to national development.
Government’s commitment to the fisheries sector is reflected by the level of subsidies on fishing inputs including premix fuel. This has significantly improved access to the product by artisanal fishers and improved their livelihoods. It is therefore important to sustain the gains made over the years by putting in place systems that would enhance the management of premix fuel. The automation of premix fuel distribution would help achieve this objective.
