The Ghana Armed Forces has deployed a team to support search-and-rescue efforts after fishermen were attacked at sea and left stranded when their outboard motors were taken during an armed raid.
The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, Gizella Tetteh, says the affected fishermen are still at sea as efforts continue to tow their boats back to shore. Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News, she said four canoes were dispatched by the Senya Canoe Owners to assist the stranded crews after their engines were removed by the attackers.
She explained that without outboard motors, the boats have to be towed back to shore by fellow fishermen. According to her, fishing canoes typically carry large crews, with about 20 people on a boat at a time, raising concerns about the number of individuals affected by the incident.
The MP dismissed reports that the fishermen had been taken hostage, clarifying that the incident was an armed robbery. She said the attackers were armed and made away with the outboard motors, leaving the fishermen traumatised by the ordeal.
Ms Tetteh disclosed that one of the affected boats had been towed to Tema after a fisherman managed to secure a hook onto another vessel. However, she said the boats returning towards Senya Bereku were still at sea and expected to arrive later.
She noted that fishermen in the area usually go out to sea at night and return by morning to sell their catch, adding that the immediate priority is to ensure the safe return of those currently stranded.
Communication with some of the fishermen has been intermittent due to poor network coverage at sea, but efforts are ongoing to track their movement and secure their safe return to shore.
