THE reported threat posed to a very sensitive installation of the Volta River Authority (VRA) by fishermen in the Western Region is, indeed, worrying, especially because of the potential threat to human life.
The Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility, which is used to pump light crude oil from tankers at sea to the Takoradi Thermal Plant, understandably is sometimes invaded by the fishermen who cook food there. Others also throw their nets into areas described as security zones.
The concerns expressed by officials of the VRA are very justified, since the facility is a very vital installation that works towards ensuring the smooth operation of the plant.
Considering the fact that the facility, located 4.5km offshore Aboadze, contains light crude oil used to fire the turbine operations of the plant, one wonders why the fishermen would want to work in the area, with little regard for their own safety.
Definitely, something must be amiss — either the fishermen are ignorant of the threat to their lives or they are bent on embarking on a dangerous and obviously reckless adventure in their quest to make ends meet.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that these are very disturbing developments that deserve prompt action, especially from our security agencies.
Fishermen in the country, especially those in the Western Region, appear quite daring. Recently, an oil rig on the high seas was the subject of concern after the DAILY GRAPHIC reported on the activities of some fishermen around the rig.
Usually, such daring activities are driven by survival instincts; yet it makes sense to argue that the quest to make ends meet must not be pursued under the most dangerous of conditions.
This development again highlights the issue of security patrols on our high seas, especially in the light of the discovery of oil and its subsequent production, which is set to commence in the last quarter of this year.
The Ghana Navy is expected to play a lead role in such patrols but, unfortunately, it has faced serious resource constraints over the years.
There is, however, the need for the government to provide more resources for the Navy to enable Naval personnel to guard and monitor operations on our high seas.
It is gratifying to note that efforts are already underway to bring in the Navy to restore sanity in this particular instance and it is hoped that the involvement of the Navy will not be short-lived.
In addressing such issues, we also believe that education is key, for which reason we commend officials of the VRA for pursuing that option and mobilising the fishermen to educate them on the dangers of their activities.
It is our hope that such initiatives will be sustained to continuously remind the fishermen of their obligation to go about their activities in a safe and responsible manner.
At the heart of this is the need to ensure that the appropriate laws regulating maritime operations in the country are passed so that such breaches of safety precautions are addressed and offenders appropriately punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
As noted by the SPM Co-ordinator, Mr Seth Akweitey, when the Ghana Maritime Authority Services Amendment Bill, which is presently before Parliament, was passed, all offshore installations, including the SPM, oil rigs and the West African Gas Pipeline Project, would be covered by the law so that fishing and other activities would not be allowed near those installations.
Considering the importance of the energy sector and sometimes the very explosive nature of oil production, the DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to Members of Parliament to expeditiously attend to this bill so that it can be passed in good time.
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