The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA) and the National Premix Secretariat have unveiled a comprehensive reform agenda to safeguard the 53 per cent Community Development Fund (CDF) following an audit that uncovered serious financial and governance lapses in its management by some Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) between 2017 and 2024.
The audit found widespread failures in financial accounting, non-compliance with the legally approved distribution formulas, and unauthorised use of funds, underscoring systemic weaknesses in how revenues from subsidised premix fuel were being managed at the community level.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, emphasised that publishing the audit findings reflects the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and systemic reform. Hon. Arthur, who leads the Ministry responsible for the fisheries sector and its agencies, including the National Premix Secretariat, said:
“We cannot build a sustainable premix system without confronting the realities of the past. This government has chosen transparency and reform over silence because the future of fisherfolk’s livelihoods depends on it.”
The Minister noted that the GH₵13,753,300.00 shortfall revealed by the audit could have financed critical community projects such as drainage systems to reduce flooding, sanitation facilities, schools, and essential infrastructure, all of which directly support Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty reduction, education access, and clean water and sanitation services.
She stressed that the losses represent a major setback for development, especially in underdeveloped coastal communities that depend on these funds to improve living conditions and livelihoods.
Recovery efforts are already in progress, and new safeguards are being put in place to prevent future lapses. Mr. Ebow Mensah, Administrator of the National Premix Secretariat, said the audit now provides a clear roadmap for action.
“Transparency strengthens enforcement. By making these findings public, we have empowered ourselves to act decisively and fairly,” Mr Mensah stated. He confirmed that recovery processes have begun, serious cases have been referred for further action, and governance structures at the landing beaches are being restructured to tighten financial controls and improve oversight.
To improve local accountability, MoFA has introduced a Community Accountability Framework. This new approach will require mandatory financial reporting, clearer signatory rules for fund access, expanded financial training for LBC executives, and strengthened compliance monitoring.
Mr Mensah also announced the forthcoming launch of a nationwide CDF protection system linked to the Premix Fuel Automation Programme, set to begin in February 2026. The system is designed to enhance transparency, real-time monitoring, and accountability throughout premix distribution and fund management.
“These reforms mark a new chapter for the premix system,” Mr Mensah added. “Our focus is on protecting fisherfolk, recovering public funds, and ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.”
MoFA and the Premix Secretariat have emphasised that combining transparent disclosure of findings, active recovery of funds, and forward-looking safeguards aims to place the premix programme on a stronger, more sustainable foundation.
The reforms seek not only to prevent future losses but also to ensure that resources designated for community development are used effectively, improving living standards, reducing poverty, and boosting local economic growth in coastal communities.
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