Jamestown fishermen threaten protest over non-operational cold store

The fishermen say the prolonged delay in making the facility functional has left them struggling to preserve their catch despite a bumper harvest, leading to significant post-harvest losses.

Speaking to Citi News, the Chief Fisherman at Jamestown, Nii Armah Wulu, said the facility has remained non-operational since the harbour was opened to the public, depriving fishermen of a critical means of preserving excess fish.

He explained that some fishermen resorted to drying surplus fish along the streets to prevent them from going to waste. However, the practice was stopped following concerns raised by city authorities, further worsening their preservation challenges.

Wulu said repeated assurances from management that efforts were underway to operationalise the facility had done little to ease their frustration, as the delay continued to affect their ability to manage excess catches.

He warned that the fishermen would wear red bands as a sign of protest if the facility remained non-operational by December 31, 2026, urging the relevant authorities to expedite efforts to make it functional.

“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.