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1.2 Objectives of the Study
The research was conducted based on the terms of reference so the objectives for the study were formulated to:
1. Trace the historical bases of the premix,
2. Identify the policy objective of the premix fuel,
3. Examine some political issues in the management of premix in the country,
4. Examine the social impact of premix on local livelihoods and fishing efforts,
5. Determine the social impact and management of premix at the local level
6. Identify the possible scenarios of maintaining the subsidy
2.0 METHODOLOGY
2.1 Introduction
The issue of premix fuel continues to pose a challenge with daily reports of shortages, diversion, corruption and smuggling to neighboring countries. The methodology helped to
elicit possible causes of the current situation of the premix fuel in the country. Following from this, the methodology looked at the research design, the sampling techniques, the data
collection methods to be applied and the analysis of the data.
2.2 Research Design
The research is a case study so it was approached from point of view of the qualitative methodology. Since the activities of the fishing industry in the various communities were
almost similar few of the communities were chosen for in-depth study. The pre-mix issue is well known especially along the coast of Ghana. As much as possible, the stories connected
with it were transcribed and the major themes used to narrate and discuss issues bothering on the premix fuel.
2.3 Sampling of Respondents
To be able to get all shades of opinions that would enrich the research and also provide a rich source of data, the research made use of the purposive and snowball sampling techniques in
getting respondents. The basis for these types of sampling is because the research is basically qualitative in nature where there is the need for an in depth investigation of the social impact
of the premix on local livelihood, and also identify problems regarding the distribution and management of the premix. These techniques were also justified because the population
involved in the study move from one beach to the other and therefore could not be defined. Purposively respondents were identified based on the relevance of the information they
provided and identified through snowball procedure. The research also required data from the local people in order to determine the impact of the premix on local livelihood, from the
fishermen in order to examine the problems they encounter getting premix and how often they get it and whether shortages occur. From the members of the premix committees to
unmask how the distribution of premix is done. Heads of the landing beach committees in charge of premix were charged to observe how premix is supplied and the executives of the
national premix committee to assess whether the subsidy was sustainable and how the premix was managed at the national executive level. It was also interesting to investigate whether
there were any political influences on the distribution of the premix fuel.
45 Information was collected to meet all the objectives by selecting people or respondents
purposively. Effectively key informants were identified through their statuspositions in the premix committees in the landing beaches. Therefore to ensure that information collected was
valid the key informants were selected from among the local people who directly dealt with the premix fuel. However, other people who were not also from the community but
command enough information concerning premix in Ghana were used as key informants.
2.4 Data Collection Methods
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