Seven Ghanaian fishermen who were reported missing at sea on October 18, 2026, have been rescued in Benin’s territorial waters, according to the Western Regional Marine Police Command.
The fishermen were rescued by local fishermen at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, after spending several days missing at sea.
In a statement, the Western Regional Marine Police Command confirmed the development and said arrangements were underway to facilitate the men’s safe return to Ghana.
The rescued fishermen 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.
The Command said coordination was ongoing among the Marine Police Command, the Ghana Navy and their counterparts in Benin and Togo to ensure the fishermen were safely repatriated to Ghana.
It added that further updates would be communicated as arrangements progressed.
The fishermen were crew members of a fishing canoe named Second Chance, which departed the Sekondi Fishing Harbour on October 9, 2026, for a fishing expedition off the coast of Axim in the Western Region.
According to reports, the canoe’s owner, Nana Kweku Atta, reported the crew missing at the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on October 18 after the vessel failed to return.
Police initially said repeated attempts to contact the crew had been unsuccessful. Preliminary information suggested that the canoe might have suffered engine failure and drifted away from its intended fishing grounds.
The disappearance prompted a search involving the Western Regional Marine Police Command, the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Fisheries Commission and coastal fishing communities.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture also confirmed that it was working with the relevant agencies to support search and rescue efforts and locate the missing fishermen.
The rescue marks a significant development in the search for the seven men, as authorities continue working with neighbouring countries to facilitate their safe return to Ghana.
Read the statement below:
