By: Daniel Yao Akpabli | ignewss – TEMA, Ghana
Seven (7) Ghanaian fishermen who went missing at sea for nearly two weeks have been rescued following a multinational search-and-rescue operation involving the navies and maritime authorities of Ghana, Togo and Benin.
The fishermen were located in Benin waters on Wednesday, October 21, and transferred to the Ghana Navy the following morning after their canoe, Second Chance, drifted eastwards across international maritime boundaries due to an outboard motor failure.
According to the Ghana Maritime Authority, the crew had departed on a fishing expedition from Sekondi to Axim in the Western Region on October 9, 2026, when the canoe developed mechanical problems, leaving them at the mercy of winds and sea currents in the Gulf of Guinea.
The incident triggered a coordinated search involving the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Ghana Navy, the navies of Togo and Benin, and regional maritime coordination centres.
The search also involved the Regional Maritime Security Centre for West Africa (CRESMAO), the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F and Zone E, as well as naval maritime operations centres.
The fishermen were eventually located and rescued at about 10:36 p.m. Ghana time on Wednesday, October 21, by a combined team from the Benin Navy and a local fishing association.
They were subsequently handed over to the Togolese Navy at 11:11 p.m. before being transferred to the Ghana Navy off Aflao at 6:49 a.m. on Thursday, October 22.
The Ghana Maritime Authority said the rescued crew members were safely aboard the Ghana Navy vessel GNS Aflao, which was making its way to the Tema Fishing Harbour while towing the recovered canoe.
The rescue highlights the importance of regional cooperation in responding to maritime emergencies, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, where fishing vessels can drift across national maritime boundaries when mechanical failures or adverse sea conditions leave crews stranded.
The involvement of local fishermen in Benin also demonstrates the role coastal communities can play in supporting maritime authorities to locate and rescue people in distress at sea.
The incident has renewed attention on the safety challenges facing artisanal fishermen, many of whom operate small vessels that can be difficult to track when they encounter mechanical problems far from shore.
Strengthening communication systems, improving emergency response coordination and exploring the use of vessel-tracking devices could help authorities locate missing fishing canoes more quickly and reduce the risks faced by fishermen.
The safe recovery of the seven men and their canoe brings an end to an extensive search that required cooperation across three West African countries.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com | Ghana Maritime Authority