FISHERMEN BESIEGE JUBILEE OILFIELD (MIRROR PAGE 34)

From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Sekondi

Fisherman suspected to be Ghanaians and Ivorians, based in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire have besieged the rigs at the Jubilee Oilfields, West of Cape Three Point.
Their activities were posing serious threats to the rigs as one of the rigs use thrusters instead of anchors and controlled by computers.
According to the drilling managers, their fears are that, if nets of these fishermen entangle the propellers it would thwart the progression of work in the oilfields.
According to the Drill Manager, Mr Alan Doworkpor, if the thrusters are faulted by the fishermen, activities would come to a standstill and the rigs would have to be moved to Duala for servicing at a high cost to the nation.
Apart from that, the Drill Manager said the lives of the fishermen could also be in danger since the thrusters could drag them under the water which had very swift current.
Mr Doworkpor said the location of the rig was more than 65 nautical miles away from the coast; therefore it was not a place where artisan fishermen with canoes should ply their activities.
“It is a fact that rigs all over the world attract fishes due to the high light and food particles, but with the location and the cost involved in the drilling, it will be best for the fishermen to keep off the oil fileds due to the risk at high seas.”
He said the current at the high seas where the rig was located was very dangerous and the canoes were not built for such adventures. That aside, the fishermen set fire and cook their food and that could catch fire if any gas should escape.
Mr Doworkpor said on many occasions, supply vessels to the rig had to rescue some of the fishermen who had travelled that far.
However, many of the fishermen The Mirror spoke to said they were aware of the terrible nature of the oilfield, and how much it was draining the government as well as how important the discovery was to the country.
“We are not responsible for that, the people of Cote d’Ivoire and some of our colleagues resident there are responsible for the current fishing activities at the rig,” they said.
They challenged the Ghana Navy to arrest the said fishermen and question them and it would surprise them to note that they were from neighbouring countries.