The seized items have since been deposited at the Eastern Naval Base in Tema
Officers from the Eastern Naval Command on Thursday night, January 22, seized fishing equipment belonging to some fisherfolk operating along the Ada Foah coastline in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region on suspicion of smuggling.
Some of the affected fishers told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the officers were allegedly pursuing a boat suspected to be transporting smuggled items when they intercepted and seized fishing gear from about 20 fishing canoes at sea.
The fisherfolk, who claimed they were not engaged in illegal fishing activities, said they were devastated by the incident and appealed to the government and the Ada East District Assembly to intervene to help them retrieve their equipment.
Tetteh Ayikpa, a canoe owner whose equipment was seized, alleged that the officers exchanged words with them before confiscating items including standby generators, bulbs, and other fishing gear.
He admitted that they were engaged in light fishing at the time but maintained that the practice should not be considered illegal, explaining that the lights were used to attract fish closer to the canoes for harvesting.
Even though light fishing is classified under sector laws as part of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, the fisherfolk insisted that the seized items were legitimate fishing tools.
Meanwhile, GNA gathered from sources within the Navy that several reports had been received regarding light fishing activities along the Ada–Volta coastline, prompting intensified monitoring to apprehend offenders.
The seized items have since been deposited at the Eastern Naval Base in Tema, while collaboration is ongoing with the Fisheries Commission to determine the next course of action.
The Eastern Naval Command is yet to issue an official statement on the operation at Ada Foah.
