Seven Rescued Ghanaian Fishermen Return to Tema After Multinational Search

byEbenezer MaduguOctober 22, 20260 Seven Ghanaian fishermen who went missing at sea have safely returned to Tema Fishing Harbour following a multinational search and rescue operation involving the navies of Ghana, Togo and Benin.

The fishermen were rescued in Benin’s territorial waters on Wednesday, October 21, after their canoe, Second Chance, reportedly drifted eastwards when its outboard motor broke down.

A joint statement issued on Thursday, October 22, by the Ghana Maritime Authority and its partners said the fishermen went missing on October 9 while travelling from Sekondi towards Axim in the Western Region for a fishing expedition, according to the canoe’s owner.

The breakdown left the canoe at the mercy of strong winds and sea currents, which carried it across maritime boundaries into Benin’s waters.

The Ghana Maritime Authority’s Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) Unit, the Ghana Navy, the National Signals Bureau and the Marine Police established contact with the crew on Wednesday morning and shared location information with maritime authorities in Togo and Benin.

The fishermen were located and rescued at about 10:36 p.m. GMT by the Benin Navy and local fishermen. They were subsequently handed over to the Togo Navy before being transferred to the Ghana Navy off Aflao early Thursday.

The crew and their retrieved canoe were transported aboard the Ghana Navy vessel GNS Aflao to Tema Fishing Harbour.

The Ghana Maritime Authority is providing accommodation for the fishermen, while the Ghana Armed Forces has supplied relief items, including food and life jackets. The crew are expected to undergo medical screening before returning to Sekondi.

The statement said the successful operation demonstrated the importance of regional cooperation and real-time information sharing in responding to maritime emergencies.

It added that the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Ghana Navy and the Fisheries Commission would work together to explore the mandatory use of safety transponders and location-tracking devices on artisanal fishing canoes to improve vessel tracking and emergency response.

The authorities expressed gratitude to the governments and naval commands of Togo and Benin, regional maritime coordination centres and local fishermen who contributed to the rescue.

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