The Ghana Armed Forces has rescued 71 fishermen whose boats were attacked by unidentified gunmen off Ghana’s coast, a local official confirmed on Thursday.
Kalala Nyamekye Eghan, Municipal Chief Executive for Awutu Senya West District in the Central Region, told the Associated Press that the armed men struck late on Wednesday, robbing the fishermen and making away with their outboard motors. The assault left the victims stranded at sea overnight.
A joint operation by the navy and air force led to the successful rescue of all 71 fishermen on Thursday morning. They were transported to hospital for medical assessment and later discharged. Authorities have launched investigations to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces announced that a search-and-rescue mission was underway off the coast of Senya Bereku following reports of attacks on fishing vessels in the area. Navy spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin urged the public to remain calm, assuring that further updates would be provided as operations continue.
The incident adds to long-standing maritime security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea, a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean along West Africa’s coastline from Senegal to Angola.
While piracy and armed robbery at sea have historically plagued the region, reported cases have declined since 2021, attributed to intensified naval patrols and strengthened regional security collaboration, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.