‘Eliminate Barriers to Fish Passage’-WRC

With the stated decline in migratory fish species in rivers, Madam Adwoa Paintsil, Acting Executive Secretary of the Water Resources Commission has called for the restoration, opening, and maintenance of the habitat for fishes by eliminating barriers to the fish passage as well as improving in-stream, floodplain and mash conditions.

She made the appeal during the recent World Fish Migration Day observed in Wa, Upper West Region, adding that Migratory Fish needed free migration routes in order to migrate, reproduce, feed, and complete their life cycle. 

“The more people were aware of the huge challenge fishes faced in the world, the more opportunities we give them”, she noted, adding that once fishes do not reach their habitat, they cannot produce and maintain their population.

Madam Paintsil observed that through the integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach, WRC provides guidelines for the proper utilisation, conservation, development, and improvement of water resources which helps protect the fishes in their natural habitat.

She stressed that removing barriers to fish passage would help recover threatened and endangered migratory fish and support the sustainability of economically important commercial and recreational fish.

Likewise, Mr. Ben Yaw Ampomah, immediate past Executive Secretary of WRC who chaired the Programme, noted that between 1970 and 2016 the population of migratory freshwater fish species declined by 76% on average.

He added that the celebration of the World Fish Migration Day gives attention to fishes and ways to help protect and preserve our rivers and fishes. It also helps raise the needed awareness as an essential step to make real change for migratory fish species and the rivers they rely on.   

Dr. Hafiz Ben Salih, Upper West Regional Minister in a keynote address observed that Migratory fish typically travel through rivers to complete their life cycle, with some swimming more than 10, 000km, adding that billions of people around the world depend on them for food, sport and research.

He bemoaned the fact that many migratory fish species are critically endangered or threatened. Moreover, illegal mining, farming, and harvesting of firewood within the riparian buffer zones as well as crude fishing practices were factors contributing to the degradation of the Volta Basin’s major water resources, especially the Black Volta River. 

To this end, the Upper West Regional Coordinating Director, Mr. Peter Maala Suglo, who represented the Minister, commended the IUCN for its pioneering efforts, as well as the Swedish International Development Cooperation for their support, and called on stakeholders to forge a closer collaboration that will ensure the protection of the water resources and the fishes.

As part of the occasion, there was a site visit to acquaint dignitaries with fish culture in a part of Wa. 

Adoagyiri Catholic Youth Choir Outdoors Album

*The Youth Choir 

It was an evening of joyful moments filled with lively medleys of songs aimed at animating the faith of the patrons and well-wishers, during the launch of the maiden album of the St. Joseph the Worker Youth Choir at Nsawam-Adoagyiri.

The maiden album titled: ‘Yen Aseda Ni’ which is a gospel genre with a collection of ten (10) songs was the first of its kind at the Church, a feat many patrons were proud of.

With the launch of the album, Rev. Fr. Andrew Kwami Dunyo, Priest at the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, noted that the Choir has added another chapter to the annals of the Koforidua Diocese.

He congratulated the Choir and their collaborators as they sought ways to enhance and animate liturgical celebrations in the Church.   

Likewise, Dr. Eric Debrah Okyere, Lecturer and Chairman at the launch, expressed excitement at the laudable feat of the Choir and urged them not to relax on their oars.

He called on Catholics to value the good things in the Church and support Choirs making efforts to enliven the Church programme.

The high point of the launch was when the renowned Composer Newlove Annan took the floor to conduct the mass Choir rendering two popular songs under his belt: “But they the wait upon the Lord’ and ‘Your Grace and Mercy’, which many patrons and present to dance.

According to Kofi Selawoe Atiglah, the Choir started in 2000 when Rev. Fr Emmanuel Debrah, then Priest-in-Charge of the Church shared the vision of starting a youth Choir at the Parish when he taught the song ‘Mum be Hwe Nyame bi’ at the Church to help animate the liturgy.

In spite of the challenges, the Choir which is the current defending champion of music in the Koforidua Diocese is poised to sustain its performance and animate the liturgical celebration.

Mr. Atiglah commended the Priests, Patrons, Parishioners of the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, and all collaborators who supported the Choir over the years.

The first copy of the CD/flash drive was purchased by His Lordship Bernard Bentil, Patron of the Choir for GH¢ 2,000.00.

In attendance were the St. Joseph the Worker Main Choir and the St. John’s Youth Choir from Nsawam, which supported the launch. 

*The Youth Choir performing at the Launch