A corporate governance expert and lecturer at GIMPA, Dr. Kwaku Anane-Gyinde, says the appeal by Ghanaian fishing regulatory authorities for their cooperation to boat owners is ridiculous.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast show, Mr Anane-Gyinde explained the regulatory authority must ensure that all agencies within its industry adhere to safety and compliance regulations.
“With this open knowledge in mind, as a regulator, you do not appeal but you enforce the rules to the latter. That is the work of a regulator”, Dr. Anane-Gyinde reiterated.
He added that most big businesses will always find ways and means to cut corners to increase profits and minimise costs.
Mr Anane-Gyinde made these statements after reports of ten persons on board a fishing vessel, Comforter 2, which sank last Friday offshore Elmina are still missing by authorities.
Meanwhile, the body of one person believed to be a Foreign National who was the Captain of the Vessel has been retrieved from the vessel with more than 20 Sailors of both Ghanaian and Foreign Nationality.
The Western Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, Joseph Yeboah, confirmed to the media that 14 sailors have been rescued with 10 more still missing.
The accident is reported to have occurred Friday, May 6, 2022. Some of the Sailors reportedly managed to swim till they were picked up by another Vessel hours after the accident.
The rescue vessel, according to reports went back to the place of the incident, to pick up more Sailors.
The Captain was found dead.
Nine other Sailors were picked up by a canoe and were sent to Elmina and late to Tema.
In all, 15 Sailors have been recovered, including the perished Captain.