On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, a severe rainfall accompanied by powerful winds and high tides wreaked havoc along the coast, resulting in the destruction of around 25 canoes positioned near the sea defense constructed as part of the James Town Fishing Harbor project.
The affected fishermen, grappling with the aftermath of this devastating loss to their means of livelihood, are now earnestly appealing for government support to aid them in recovering from this setback.
This unfortunate event unfolded when the intense rainfall, coupled with forceful winds, created exceptionally high tides, which ultimately led to the destruction of numerous canoes stationed close to the sea defense structure.
The Chief Fisherman of James Town, Nii Armah Wulu, attributed the destruction to the limited space available for the canoes, forcing the fishermen to cluster their vessels closer together.
The limited space near the harbor exacerbates the challenges faced by fishermen, as they struggle to maintain a safe distance between their canoes, especially during adverse weather conditions. This congestion often results in collisions among the vessels, leading to significant damage.
Samuel Larbi, a fisherman, recounted how his canoe fell victim to this predicament when high tides forced it to collide with the sea defense structure, ultimately resulting in its destruction.
He expressed concern over the financial burden of repairing or purchasing a new canoe.
“When the high tides occurred, our canoes collided with the sea defence, destroying my canoe. Yesterday when the incident happened, I couldn’t even finish half a portion of Banku. This situation has taken a toll on me. Repairing or purchasing a new canoe will cost me a fortune.”
The affected fishermen have been working together to salvage what remains of their damaged canoes and appeal to the government for support.
They are also urging the government to extend the construction of sea defenses from the Osikan Beach Resort to connect with those being built as part of the fishing harbour project.
STORY BY ; PORTIA AKU SHIKA GAFAH
