Seven 'missing' Sekondi fishermen to be repatriated from Benin to Ghana — Police

The Ghana Police Service says arrangements are underway to repatriate seven fishermen from Sekondi who were reported missing at sea after they were located and rescued in Benin’s territorial waters.

In a statement issued on Thursday morning, October 22, the Western Regional Marine Police Command said the fishermen were rescued by local fishermen at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

The seven have been identified as Kofi Emmanuel, 32; Uncle Amoah, 45; Kwamena Nkum, 29; Kofi Aboagye, 36; Doboa, 35; Agya Badu, 42; and Kwamena Akyem, 40.

According to the police, the Marine Police Command is coordinating with the Ghana Navy and their counterparts in Benin and Togo to facilitate the fishermen’s safe return to Ghana.

Their rescue was earlier announced by the Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Prof. Benjamin B. Campion, who said the crew members of the fishing canoe Second Chance had been located after being stranded at sea for 12 days.

The canoe reportedly suffered engine failure and drifted into Togolese and Beninese waters, leaving the crew without adequate food and water.

The fishermen had departed the Sekondi Fishing Harbour on October 9, 2026, for a fishing expedition off the coast of Axim but failed to return as expected.

Speaking about their rescue, Prof. Campion said the crew members were in good health and were being transported to shore by officials from a neighbouring country.

“I, the Executive Director has not spoken with them directly, but I have been coordinating with the boat owner (from Sekondi), and he has spoken with them directly. They've been in touch with the French authorities, [but] because of language barrier, we are not yet sure which of the French authorities whether Benin or Togo, but they are being brought to shore and then they will now come by land after examination of their health condition,” he said.

Asked about their safety, Prof. Campion said their immediate needs were being addressed after they ran out of supplies while stranded.

“for now they are very safe. Our major concern was their health and safety because they had run out of resources, but now they are okay, they have been given food, water and therefore we are just waiting for them to get on land.”

He attributed the communication difficulties to network challenges the fishermen were experiencing while in unfamiliar territory.

The police had earlier disclosed in a statement issued on October 20 that the canoe’s owner, Nana Kweku Atta, reported the disappearance at the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on October 18.

According to the report, the canoe left the harbour on October 9 for a fishing expedition off Axim but had not returned, while repeated attempts to contact the crew proved unsuccessful.

Preliminary investigations later suggested that the canoe might have suffered engine failure and drifted towards Tema and the Volta coast, travelling more than 120 nautical miles.

The latest development brings relief to the families of the seven fishermen, as authorities work to complete the arrangements for their safe return to Ghana.