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3 clusters · 11 sources · 6 days · First seen · Last updated

Rescue of stranded Ghanaian fishermen

Overview

Seven fishermen aboard the canoe ‘Second Chance’ were stranded at sea for over a week after an outboard motor failure caused them to drift more than 120 nautical miles from the shore. The crew, who departed from Sekondi for Axim on October 9, 2026, for a routine five-day trip, drifted into the territorial waters of Togo and Benin due to strong winds and ocean currents.

During their ordeal, the crew faced severe resource shortages. After food and water supplies were exhausted five days after the engine failure, the men resorted to catching fish with hooks and lines to eat. To manage thirst, they boiled seawater to reduce salt concentration, and when charcoal ran out, they were forced to burn wood from their own canoe to cook.

A multi-agency search operation was launched on October 20, involving the Ghana Navy, Air Force, and Special Boat Squadron, as well as the navies of Togo and Benin. The mission was coordinated under the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy and the Yaounde Architecture framework, with assistance from the French Embassy and regional maritime coordination centres.

The Beninese Navy located the fishermen with help from local fishers on October 21. The crew was transferred to a Togolese vessel and then handed over to the Ghana Navy Ship Aflao at the maritime border on October 22. All seven crew members—Kwamena Akyem, Kofi Emmanuel, Uncle Amoah, Kwamena Nkum, Kofi Aboagye, Doboa, and Agya Badu—arrived at the Tema Fishing Harbour reported to be in good condition.

Entities

Ghana Navy · Gulf of Guinea · Kwamena Nkum · Kwame Akyim · Tema

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Seven Ghanaian fishermen survive two weeks adrift at sea

    Seven Sekondi fishermen survived two weeks at sea after their canoe's motor failed, resorting to eating raw fish and boiling seawater to stay alive before being rescued in Beninese waters.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Seven Ghanaian fishermen rescued after two weeks adrift

    Seven Ghanaian fishermen have been rescued after drifting for two weeks in the Gulf of Guinea following an engine failure. A multinational operation involving Ghana, Togo, and Benin successfully returned them.

  3. [INTERNATIONAL] 7 sources
    Seven fishermen stranded at sea after engine failure

    Seven fishermen aboard the canoe ‘Second Chance’ are stranded over 120 nautical miles offshore following an engine failure. The crew is surviving on boiled seawater while awaiting rescue by the Ghana Navy.

Sources

adomonline.com · chale.news · ghanaguardian.com · ghanamma.com · ghananewss.com · journaldutogo.com · myjoyonline.com · mynewsgh.com · news.stv.tv · onuaonline.com · pulse.com.gh

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history