The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has stated that all the fishermen who were caught up in the attack at sea near Senya Breku have all been rescued.
According to a press release dated February 26 and signed by Acting Director of Public Relations, Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, all forty-seven fishermen have been reunited with their families.
“The Ghana Navy carried out the rescue efforts together with the Ghana Air Force supported by the local fishermen from Nyanyano Senya Breku general areas. Ghana Navy Special Boat Squadron with fast interceptors supported by other Ghana Navy Ships from Eastern and Western Naval Commands were key to the rescue mission which resulted in the safe evacuation from sea of 47 of the victims to Tema and Senya Breku respectively. Interviews from the fishermen rescued indicates that no Ghanaian fisherman has been kidnapped,” the statement indicated.
It is recalled that the Ghana Armed Forces conducted search and rescue operations which started at dawn on February 26 to locate distressed Ghanaian Fishermen at sea, approximately 35 nautical miles off the coast of Gomoa Nyanyano, Senya Breku in the Central Region.
The GAF stated that the fishermen got stranded after they were attacked by robbers who dispossessed them of their outboard motors and personal belongings.
“Affected boats include Argentina 2, Argentina 3, Sea Lion, and Berema Nsukwa, among others,” the statement further noted.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Navy is continuing patrolling of Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone including the area in question.
“The Ghana Armed Forces urges all fishermen and maritime users to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious activity as the situation is being assessed. It further acknowledges the massive and timely support of the Member of Parliament of the area, Gizella Tenet Agbotui, the fisher folks and good people of the Senya Bereku which aided the rescue efforts,”Captain Arhin wrote.
She assured that, “The Ghana Navy remains fully committed to protecting Ghanaian fishermen, combating piracy and armed robbery at sea, and ensuring the safety of vessels within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone.”
