Jamestown fishermen threaten demo over delayed operationalisation of cold store

Some fishermen at the Jamestown Fishing Harbour have threatened to stage a protest if the cold storage facility at the harbour is not operational by December 31, 2026.

The fishermen say the delay in putting the facility to use has made it difficult to preserve their catch, resulting in significant post-harvest losses despite increased fish landings.

Speaking to Accra-based Citi News, the Chief Fisherman at Jamestown, Nii Armah Wulu, said the facility had remained non-functional since the harbour was opened to the public, leaving fishermen without a crucial means of storing excess fish.

He explained that some fishermen had resorted to drying surplus fish along the streets to prevent their catch from going bad.

However, the practice was halted following concerns from city authorities, compounding the challenges faced by the fishing community.

According to Wulu, repeated assurances from management that steps were being taken to make the facility operational have failed to ease the fishermen’s frustration, as they continue to struggle with preserving their catch.

He warned that the fishermen would resort to a symbolic protest by wearing red bands if the facility remained non-operational by the end of the year.

“Management continues to assure us that efforts are underway to operationalise the facility. However, frustrated by the prolonged delay, we have resolved to wear red bands in protest if the cold storage facility is not operational by the end of the year,” he said.

The fishermen are urging the relevant authorities to expedite work to make the facility functional and help reduce losses associated with the poor preservation of excess fish.