Ghana Navy probes pirate attack on fishing vessel, Three crew feared abducted

The Ghana Navy has launched a formal investigation into a suspected pirate attack on Mengxin 1, a Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, which occurred in Ghanaian territorial waters on the evening of Thursday, March 27.

According to a statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces on Saturday, March 29, the incident happened at approximately 5:53 PM. Seven armed intruders reportedly boarded the vessel and discharged warning shots, prompting several crew members to retreat to a secure compartment.

The attackers, who stayed aboard for close to three hours, eventually gathered the crew on deck and seized their mobile phones. Upon their departure, it became evident that the vessel’s Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—who are Chinese nationals—were unaccounted for, raising fears of abduction.

Due to the absence of network connectivity offshore, the remaining crew members navigated closer to land to alert authorities. The vessel later docked safely at Tema Fishing Harbour.

A preliminary investigation conducted by the Marine Police and Naval Intelligence from the Eastern Naval Command has verified the attack and confirmed that a kidnapping likely occurred.

To support rescue efforts, intelligence has been shared with regional counterparts via the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, under the Yaoundé Architecture—an initiative focused on bolstering maritime security in West and Central Africa.

Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, stated that security agencies are working relentlessly to track and rescue the missing crew members. He emphasized the Navy’s continued collaboration with both regional and international allies to address maritime threats and protect Ghanaian waters.