A multi-thousand-cedi fish processing facility built under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo-Bawumia administration to modernize fish preservation in Penkye has been left abandoned, deteriorating into a sanitation hazard and crippling the livelihoods of fishermen and fishmongers.
The plant, meant to replace traditional methods such as smoking and salting, has never been commissioned. Years of neglect have rendered it unusable, forcing the community back to outdated preservation practices ill-suited for Penkye’s humid environment.
During a recent visit, Bernard Kwame Dogbey, a level 300 journalism student at the University of Education, Winneba, found a community frustrated and struggling. Beyond piles of refuse and choked gutters, the lack of a functioning preservation system stood out as the central challenge.
Fishmonger Ama Asantewaa described the loss:
“We lose a lot of our catch to spoilage because we cannot preserve it properly. Smoking and salting are what we know, but they are not enough. If we had that facility working, we could process more, sell more, and get better prices, especially for export. Now, it’s just a white elephant, a monument to broken promises.”
Assembly Member Benjamin Fiifi Sackey confirmed the plant’s dire state.
“The past government constructed this to resolve fish preservation challenges, especially for exports, but it was never commissioned. I wrote letters to the Effutu Municipal Assembly, but nothing happened. Today, the facilities are deplorable and unusable.”
Residents are now demanding accountability, pressing authorities for answers on how much was spent, who handled the project, and why it was never handed over.
“This is taxpayers’ money wasted,” said Kofi Mensah, a resident. “We deserve answers, and we need assurance this won’t happen again.”
The abandoned facility has worsened Penkye’s sanitation crisis. Without modern processing, fish waste is dumped indiscriminately, clogging drainage systems and creating fertile ground for cholera, diarrhea, and malaria, according to Public Health Officer Samuel Aketuah of the Effutu Municipal Assembly.
The situation threatens both the economy and public health, as fish spoilage reduces income and export potential, while poor waste management heightens disease risks.
“This is no longer optional — it is urgent,” Hon. Sackey stressed. “We call on the current government to investigate the abandoned project and prioritize a sustainable solution for Penkye. Our fishermen and fishmongers deserve better.”
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