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High electricity cost suffocates gov’t cold stores

There is a need for an urgent intervention to save about six cold stores that were built by government to help fishermen along the coast with their businesses.

Date Created : 11/9/2017 5:20:08 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

Currently, all six cold stores that were built under the Spanish grant are said to be suffocating due to high cost of electricity, forcing some to close down.

Responding to questions at a press soiree organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, and the Fisheries Commission, Madam Cecelia Erzuah, Director, Finance and Administration said high electricity cost remains a major problem for the effective running of these facilities.

According to her, the private entities managing these cold stores including Nyanyano, Prampram, Half- Assini, Shama, New Takoradi, and the latest one being Elmina have all brought similar complaints to her desk, adding that some of the cold stores have even stopped operating.

He indicated that if nothing is done, the good idea behind the projects, which is to help the artisanal fishermen have access to ice block, and ready storage facility to reduce post- harvest losses would be defeated.

Madam Erzuah however, announced that they are planning to engage the Energy Ministry on the problem with the hope that there would be a way out. Or they would have to engage government at cabinet level over these facilities. “We are also looking at the possibilities of solar”, she stated.