- Fisheries Ministry, COMAC Move to Protect Premix Fuel Subsidy System
The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies has raised concerns over the diversion, hoarding and misuse of subsidised premix fuel, warning that the practice is undermining support meant for fisherfolk and small-scale canoe operators.
The Chamber, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Riverson Oppong, raised the concerns during a courtesy call on the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the downstream petroleum industry and the fisheries sector.
According to the Chamber, the premix fuel subsidy was introduced to make fuel affordable and accessible to small-scale fishers and canoe operators, helping to sustain livelihoods in coastal and riverside communities.
Dr Oppong, however, said the purpose of the subsidy is being weakened by individuals who divert subsidised fuel meant for fishing communities and resell it at higher prices for private gain.
“The subsidy i intended to support fisherfolk, not profiteering,” Dr Oppong stressed.
He called for stronger collaboration with the Ministry to clamp down on offenders and improve accountability within the premix fuel distribution system.
The COMAC CEO also called for decisive action against illegal diversion, hoarding and unmonitored fuel losses, describing the situation as a serious law enforcement matter.
Premix fuel remains one of the most sensitive subsidy issues in Ghana’s energy and fisheries sectors because of its direct connection to fishing livelihoods, food supply and coastal economies.
When subsidised fuel is diverted, fisherfolk are forced to buy at higher prices, reduce fishing activity or depend on informal supply channels, weakening both household incomes and fish availability.
For fishing communities, the problem is not only about fuel access. It affects operating costs, landing volumes, market prices and the stability of livelihoods in communities where fishing remains the main source of income.
Madam Arthur welcomed the Chamber’s intervention and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to tackling illegal activities in the premix fuel distribution chain.
She disclosed that the Ministry, together with the Premix Fuel Secretariat, has already been tracking and arresting offenders involved in abuse of the system.
The Minister further assured the Chamber of the continued support of the Fisheries Enforcement Unit in prosecuting individuals found culpable.
She said government remains committed to ensuring that subsidised premix fuel reaches genuine fisherfolk and is not diverted for unlawful profit-making activities.
The development comes amid broader concerns over transparency and accountability in Ghana’s premix fuel regime, which has over the years faced allegations of political interference, middleman profiteering, diversion and weak monitoring.
For the Fisheries Ministry, protecting the subsidy system will require stronger tracking of fuel allocations, clearer reporting by landing beach committees, tougher sanctions and closer coordination with oil marketing companies, security agencies and fisherfolk associations.
For COMAC, the issue also touches on the credibility of fuel distribution and the need to prevent subsidised products from entering unauthorised commercial channels.
If the renewed collaboration is sustained, it could help reduce leakages and ensure that public support reaches the fishing communities for which it was intended.
Ghana’s premix fuel challenge has rarely been about policy intention. It has often been about whether the state can stop subsidised fuel from being captured by intermediaries before it reaches the canoe owners and fisherfolk who need it most.
