Seven Ghanaian Fishers Rescued After Spending Over a Week Adrift at Sea
Joint operation by the Ghanaian, Togolese and Beninese navies secures the crew’s rescue after engine failure left their canoe drifting offshore.
Seven Ghanaian fishermen who spent more than a week stranded at sea have been rescued in a coordinated operation involving the navies of Ghana, Togo and Benin.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture confirmed the successful rescue on Thursday, October 22, 2026, commending the three navies for their swift response and effective regional cooperation.
The operation followed a distress alert issued on Wednesday, October 21, by the Ghana Navy and the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC-E).
In response, the Togolese Navy deployed its patrol vessel, OTI, which located the distressed fishing canoe approximately three nautical miles off Grand-Popo in Beninese waters.
All seven crew members were rescued and provided with assistance. The vessel was subsequently being towed towards the Ghana-Togo maritime boundary for handover to the Ghana Navy.
Engine failure left crew drifting offshore
The rescued fishermen were aboard a canoe named Second Chance, which disappeared after leaving Sekondi Fishing Harbour on October 9 for a fishing expedition off Axim in the Western Region.
The canoe reportedly suffered an engine failure, leaving the crew at the mercy of the sea for more than a week.
One of the fishermen, Kwame Akyim, told TV3 News that strong ocean currents had carried the canoe more than 120 nautical miles offshore.
He recounted the difficult conditions the crew endured, explaining that they had limited food supplies, depended on their catch for sustenance and resorted to boiling seawater for drinking.
The ordeal sparked concern among the fishermen’s families and fishing communities as efforts intensified to locate the missing crew.
Multi-agency search led to rescue
The canoe’s owner, Nana Kweku Atta, reported its disappearance to the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on October 18, triggering a search involving the Marine Police, Ghana Navy, Ghana Maritime Authority, Fisheries Commission and fishing communities.
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson later announced that contact had been established with the crew and their location identified in neighbouring waters.
This prompted engagement with Togolese authorities to coordinate efforts to secure the fishermen’s safe return.
The subsequent operation involving the three West African navies culminated in the rescue of all seven crew members.
Ministry renews call for safety at sea
Following the rescue, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture reiterated the importance of observing maritime safety measures, urging fishermen to check weather conditions before setting out to sea, wear life jackets and carry reliable communication equipment.
It also called on fishers to comply strictly with maritime safety advisories and take personal responsibility for their safety.
“Safety at sea is non-negotiable,” the Ministry stressed, warning that no fishing expedition was worth a human life.
The Ministry urged all stakeholders to take the necessary precautions to ensure that fishermen who venture out to sea return home safely.
The rescue highlights the importance of regional cooperation in responding to maritime emergencies and the need for fishing crews to be adequately equipped to deal with unexpected challenges at sea.
