President Mahama commissions new cold store in Shama

President John Mahama, has inaugurated a cold store for the people of Shama in the Western region. The cold store project is part of government's efforts to revamp the fisheries sector. 

The project particularly is meant to provide refrigeration to the artisanal fishing sector which is vibrant in the region.

Similar cold store projects have been completed in Prampram, Nyanyano and Half Assini. It has the capacity to accommodate 150 tonnes of fish. It also has an ice block and ice flakes making machine. 

President Mahama said Ghana has high records of fish consumption, but the country's supply is below demand. 

He said government is bent on improving the fisheries sector for both domestic consumption and for export.  

In 2007, the government of Ghana and its Spanish counterpart signed a seven-million Euro agreement to improve infrastructure in the fisheries sector.

The President announced that tricycles and outboard motors will be distributed to all landing beaches on hire purchase.  

The Minister of Fisheries, Madam Sherry Ayitey, is hopeful the cold store will provide jobs for the teeming youth. She said post-harvest loses now belong to the past. 

The President is expected to inspect another cold store facility at new Takoradi and later interact with the Western region fishing community.

GBC