The Ghana Armed Forces have successfully rescued 71 Ghanaian fishermen who were left stranded at sea following a robbery attack off the Central Region coast.
The search and rescue operation, which began at dawn, was launched after reports indicated that several fishing crews had been attacked approximately 35 nautical miles off the coast of Gomoa Nyanyano and Senya Bereku. According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the assailants robbed the fishermen of their outboard motors and personal belongings, leaving them helpless at sea.
Affected boats included Argentina 2, Argentina 3, Sea Lion, and Berema Nsukwa, among others.
The rescue mission was led by the Ghana Navy, with support from the Ghana Air Force and local fishermen from the Nyanyano and Senya Bereku areas. The Ghana Navy’s Special Boat Squadron deployed fast interceptor boats, backed by naval ships from the Eastern and Western Naval Commands, to locate and evacuate the victims.
The operation resulted in the safe evacuation of 24 fishermen to Tema and 47 to Senya Bereku.
Interviews conducted with the rescued fishermen confirmed that no Ghanaian had been kidnapped during the incident.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Navy has intensified patrols within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone, including the affected area, as authorities continue to assess the situation. The Armed Forces have urged fishermen and other maritime users to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities at sea.
The Ghana Armed Forces also expressed appreciation to the Member of Parliament for the area, Gizella Tetteh Agbotui, as well as local fisherfolk and residents of Senya Bereku, for their swift support, which contributed significantly to the success of the rescue operation.
The Ghana Navy reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ghanaian fishermen, combating piracy and armed robbery at sea, and ensuring the security of vessels operating within the country’s territorial waters.
