Fisherfolk cash grant: Govt wants list to reflect “real beneficiaries” – Min Mustapha

The verification process is ongoing on the list of beneficiaries for the fisherfolk cash grant, in order to ensure that it is reflective of the true recipients.
President Ali had announced in May the rollout of one-off cash grants to the tune of $150,000, which will exclusively go to registered local fisherfolk, across the country. This included both licensed and unlicensed fisherfolks.
Speaking with media operatives in a recent engagement, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha stated that after a robust verification process, a transparent list will be created.

“We have seen a number of names that were added onto the list that was posted around the country. Our officers and various stakeholders were doing verification. I still want us to have maximum verification. I want a list that is very transparent, reflective of the number of fisherfolks in our country and the real beneficiaries,” Mustapha underscored.
According to the Minister, the list has been sent to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) for persons to make objections or request that their names be included. This will continue over the next week, and then the grant will be distributed.
“I have sent back the list to various NDCs across the country, where there is a notice in the daily newspapers for people to go and check their names, see if they want to make an objection or add a name. That will be done over the next week and hopefully by the end, we can have a verified list and we would pay the cash grant to the fisherfolks.”
Although reports suggest that the catches have been improving, fisherfolk were still finding it difficult to afford basic household items for their families and the grant will be able to assist with those needs.
The Government has noted that this special additional measure is in light of the unique challenges being faced by fishermen, including the low catches they continue to experience. President Ali had announced a series of ground-breaking measures, ranging from cash grants to households in the hinterland and riverine communities to the provision of free fertilisers for farmers, which are aimed at improving the lives of citizens.
Among the announcements was the distribution of a one-off $25,000 cash grant to every household in the riverine and hinterland communities of the country. This measure, according to Ali, would result in $800 million being pumped into the economy and would cushion the impacts of the rising cost of living.