Ghana Navy, Air Force in dramatic rescue op after armed raiders cripple 50 fishing boats

A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently underway off the coast of Senya Bereku after armed pirates attacked a fleet of fishing vessels on Wednesday night, leaving over 50 fishermen stranded at sea.

The Ghana Navy, with aerial support from the Ghana Air Force, launched the operation at dawn on Thursday, February 26, 2026, approximately 35 nautical miles from the Senya Bereku shoreline. The mission was confirmed in a press release by the Ghana Armed Forces following a distress call about the violent incident.

According to survivors and local authorities, a group of armed men in a high-speed boat intercepted the fishermen during a night expedition. The assailants fired warning shots to subdue their victims before boarding the vessels. They proceeded to rob the fishermen of critical equipment, including seven outboard motors, valuable fishing gear, and generators, effectively immobilizing the boats and leaving them adrift at sea.

Elder Samuel Fetteh, an eyewitness, told Adom News that the attackers met no resistance as they overpowered the fishermen and carried out the swift robbery, leaving them stranded about 4,000 meters offshore.

As of midday on Thursday, the fate of the stranded men hung in the balance. Gizella Tetteh, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, confirmed that the fishermen had not yet returned to shore. She stated that local canoe owners had rallied together, dispatching four canoes in a community-led effort to tow the stricken vessels back to safety.

“They are sitting in their boats without motors, and they do not use paddles these days, so they cannot move. That is why they have to be towed by their colleagues,” Ms. Tetteh explained during an interview on Joy FM.

The MP was quick to correct initial reports suggesting a hostage situation had occurred. “As far as I know, nobody has been taken hostage. That report is not accurate. It is a robbery because the attackers had guns,” she clarified.

Ms. Tetteh provided an update on the rescue efforts, revealing that one of the affected boats had been towed to Tema after a fisherman managed to secure a line to a passing vessel. However, the others are still making their way back to Senya Bereku and remain at sea.

Coordination efforts have been severely hampered by poor network coverage in the area, making communication with the stranded fishermen difficult, she added.

The District Chief Executive for Awutu Senya West, Kalala Nyamkye, confirmed the attack and assured the public that a rescue boat had been deployed to ensure the safe return of the fishermen. Meanwhile, Ms. Tetteh stated that the Inspector-General of Police has deployed personnel from the Marine Police and the military to track down the perpetrators of the attack.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the coastal community, raising fresh concerns about the security of local fishermen who venture into Ghana’s territorial waters.