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The Ghana Police Service has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of two Chinese for reportedly importing unwholesome tilapia into the country. 

A release from the Police explained in a release that it is on a manhunt for Zhang Ming alias Gary and Chu Yong Shuai “for the offence of importation of Tilapia Fish in commercial quantity into the Republic of Ghana without permit contrary to section 130 (1) and (3) of Fisheries Act 2002 (Act 625) respectively.”

Mr Ming, a businessman, and his accomplice Mr Shuai, according to the Police said on January 29, 2017, the two imported 1,310 cartons of tilapia into a cold store in Tema, a release signed by Olivia Turkson, Public Relations Officer of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

“The Food and Drugs Authority were invited by the Police to inspect the alleged imported tilapia to ascertain whether the fish were wholesome for human consumption. Results by the FDA revealed that the tilapia was unwholesome for human consumption.”

The two suspects have since bolted, and all efforts made to trace them have proved futile “hence the call for public support to get the suspects arrested and brought to book,” the police said.

‘Fish shortage to hit Ghana if Chinese fishermen are banned’

The development comes after calls by some Ghanaian fishermen for government to stop Chinese fishermen from operating in Ghanaian waters.

But the Managing Director of the semi-industrial fishing company, Onyame Fisheries, Joe Onyame, insisted that there will be a severe shortage of fish in Ghana if Chinese fishermen are banned.

According to him, the locals do not have the requisite capital and skill to buy and operate vessels used by the Chinese to harvest fish from the sea for consumption.