Ghana Navy Rescues 71 Fishermen After Armed Pirates Attack Their Boats

Ghana’s armed forces rescued 71 fishermen after armed gunmen attacked their boats off the coast of Senya Bereku in the Central Region.

The assault occurred late Wednesday in the Gulf of Guinea, a known hotspot for maritime piracy, leaving fishermen stranded at sea without their outboard motors.

At least four fishing boats, including Argentina 2, Argentina 3, Sea Lion, and Berema Nsukwa, were targeted.

The attackers stole all outboard motors and personal belongings, forcing the fishermen to drift overnight. No kidnappings were reported.

On Thursday morning, the Ghana Navy and Air Force launched a coordinated search-and-rescue mission, assisted by local fishermen from Nyanyano and Senya Bereku.

The Navy’s Special Boat Squadron, supported by fast interceptor vessels and other ships from Eastern and Western Naval Commands, safely evacuated 24 fishermen to Tema and 47 to Senya Bereku.

The Ghana Armed Forces continue to patrol the Exclusive Economic Zone, urging maritime users to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.

Local authorities, including MP Gizella Tetteh Agbotui, supported the rescue efforts.

The mass robbery is a rare multi-vessel attack on artisanal fishermen. While petty crimes at sea are relatively common in the Gulf of Guinea, large-scale assaults have declined since 2021 due to increased naval patrols and regional security cooperation.

Local fishing communities have long complained about foreign industrial trawlers and fish meal plants depleting fish stocks.

Despite the drop in large-scale attacks, the Gulf of Guinea remains one of the world’s most active regions for maritime crime, affecting both commercial and artisanal vessels.

International monitoring and timely military interventions remain critical to preventing further incidents.

References: AP News, balitangmarino

Source: Maritime Shipping News