The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA) and the National Premix Secretariat have announced a sweeping set of reforms to protect the 53 percent Community Development Fund (CDF) allocated to communities.
The decision was taken after the release of an audit report that exposed severe financial and governance lapses in management of premix funds meant for community development by some Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) between 2017 and 2024.
The audit revealed widespread failures in accounting, non-compliance with approved distribution formulas and unauthorised use of funds, exposing deep-rooted institutional weaknesses in managing community premix resources.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, commenting on the report said the decision to make it public demonstrated the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and reform.
She reiterated: “We cannot build a sustainable premix system without confronting the realities of the past. This government has chosen transparency and reform over silence, because the future of fisherfolks’ livelihoods depends on it.”
The Minister stressed that the funds, which were not accounted for, could have been used for much-needed projects such as drainage systems, sanitation facilities, schools and infrastructure to support fishing communities.
These facilities, she mentioned, could directly contributed to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to poverty alleviation, education and clean water and sanitation.
According to her, the loss represents a huge setback for development, particularly in underdeveloped coastal areas, where these resources were vital for improving living conditions.
The Administrator of the National Premix Secretariat, Mr Ebow Mensah, told The Chronicle in an interview that the audit provided a clear roadmap for action, saying “Transparency strengthens enforcement” and that by making these findings public, “we have empowered ourselves to act decisively and fairly.”
He confirmed that recovery processes were underway, with serious cases referred for further action whereas governance structures at the landing-beach level were being restructured to tighten financial controls and improve oversight.
He stressed that as response to the audit findings, MoFA was introducing a Community Accountability Framework to ensure the proper management of CDF funds at the local level.
This framework, he noted, would include mandatory reporting, clearer signatory rules, improved financial training for LBC executives and stricter compliance monitoring.
Mr Mensah also announced that starting in February 2026, government would roll out a nationwide CDF protection system linked to the Premix Fuel Automation Programme to enhance transparency, monitoring and accountability.
“These reforms mark a new chapter for the premix system. Our focus is on protecting fisherfolk, recovering public funds and ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated,” he said.
The Secretariat emphasised that the combination of transparency, recovery and reform would position the premix programme to be stronger and more sustainable to reinforce its critical role in supporting the livelihoods of fisherfolk to drive community development in coastal areas across the country.
The main purpose of the aforementioned initiative meant to prevent future losses and ensure that the funds designated for community development would be used effectively to bring long-term benefits to fishing communities to reduce poverty and foster economic growth in line with the government’s commitment to the SDGs.
