The exercise was to promote knowledge about how to preserve the oceans for generations.

It was also used to sensitise the fisherfolks on the need to keep the ocean clean.

Madam Vida Botchwey, PFC Human Resources Director, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in Tema, said the ocean is one of the greatest resources, a major source of income and food, among others.

Speaking on the theme: “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean,” Madam Botchwey said there was a need to raise awareness to promote global ocean and resource sustainability.

Madam Botchwey cautioned that dumping of refuse into water bodies was adversely affecting marine life and called for a behavioural change to maintain the ocean.

“When we dump, it all comes back into the ocean and the coastal areas are seriously impacted, as people who depend on the ocean, we must take care of it, because it’s by taking care of it today that tomorrow, our generation to come also can use the ocean,” she said.

The PFC HR Director said the purpose of the health screening was to meet the health needs of the fisher folks and other members of the community, adding that “we believe that our people within the community needed to be taken care of in terms of their health, so they can practice healthy habits as well”.

She said about 200 fisher folks and residents benefited from the health screening and called on Ghanaians to contribute toward protecting the ocean.

Mr Kwame Adumako, the Acting Director of PFC, explained that the World Ocean Day celebration was to create awareness and ensure sustainable management of the ocean.

He said rejuvenating the oceans was a collective responsibility and urged the stakeholders to play their roles in creating a sustainable future for the world.

Meanwhile, the fisher folks and residents of New Town also received free health screening organized by PFC as part of the celebration.

Residents were screened for certain lifestyle illnesses, including hypertension, BP, and diabetes, among others as well as eye screening.

Lenses, eye drops, and other medications were given out.

Nii Ashitey Odametey II, the Chief Fisherman lauded PFC for the sensitization and health screening of the fisher folks and encouraged residents of Tema Newtown to desist from activities that endangered the ocean.