Some natives of Tema Manhean have prevented officials of WILMAR, a Singaporean edible oil refinery company from developing a piece of land near the naval base which was allegedly sold to the company by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
About 100 natives went to the site upon seeing that machines have been brought to the site to clear the area for the commencement of the project.
Speaking to Obonu news at the site, the Secretary to the Tema Traditional Council, Nii Shipi Amaah said although it is the wish of the people for investors to establish factories in the areas to employ people especially the youth to reduce the growing unemployment rate in the country, they will not allow any company to set up a project that will collapse their occupation.
Nii Amaah stated that the said land over the years has been set aside to fishing related purposes and any attempt to use it for a different purpose will only push the fisher folks out of their life long occupation.
According to the Executive Secretary of the Corporate Social Responsibilities Movement, an NGO, Rita Amaah Amafio, there are over 500 canoes that operate in the area which employ over 12,000 people.
She said if the project is allowed at the site, the people will be deprived of their source of livelihood.
The Chief fisherman, Awudum Nii Odametey also said the fishing harbor and its immediate land do not serve only the indigenous people but fishermen from the Volta, Central and Western regions.
He said the place is the only land available to the women to dry their fish and any attempt to sell it to investors will have a negative effect on them.
He therefore appealed to the government to intervene to preserve the land for its intended purpose.
