Seven Ghanaian fishermen rescued after two weeks adrift

Seven Ghanaian fishermen have returned to Tema after spending two weeks lost at sea in the Gulf of Guinea. The crew, traveling in a canoe named ‘Second Chance’, departed from Sekondi for Axim on October 9 when their outboard motor failed. Strong winds and ocean currents subsequently pushed the vessel eastwards into the territorial waters of Togo and Benin.

A multinational rescue operation was launched following a distress alert from the Fisheries Commission on October 20. The search involved the Ghana Navy, Air Force, and Special Boat Squadron, alongside the navies of Togo and Benin. The mission was coordinated under the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy and the Yaounde Architecture framework, with additional assistance from the French Embassy and regional maritime coordination centres.

The Beninese Navy located the fishermen with the help of local fishermen on October 21. They were transferred to a Togolese vessel and subsequently handed over to the Ghana Navy Ship Aflao at the maritime border early on October 22. All seven crew members—Kwamena Akyem, Kofi Emmanuel, Uncle Amoah, Kwamena Nkum, Kofi Aboagye, Doboa, and Agya Badu—were reported to be in good condition upon their arrival.