The Ghana Navy has launched an investigation into a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, Mengxin 1, which occurred on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025.
Preliminary reports indicate that at approximately 5:53 PM, seven armed individuals boarded the vessel and fired warning shots, causing crew members to take cover in a designated safe area. The attackers remained on board for about three hours, during which they gathered the crew on deck and confiscated their mobile phones.
Three crew members missing
Following the attack, the crew discovered that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—all Chinese nationals—were missing, leading authorities to suspect that they had been kidnapped.
Due to the lack of mobile network coverage at sea, the crew had to navigate closer to land before reporting the incident to authorities.
The vessel has since docked safely at the Tema Fishing Harbour, where Marine Police and Naval Intelligence officers conducted initial interrogations.
Maritime security threat
The Ghana Navy has described the incident as a serious maritime security threat and is working closely with intelligence agencies to locate and rescue the missing crew members.
“We are treating this as a serious maritime security threat and are working closely with intelligence agencies to locate and rescue the missing crew,” a Ghana Navy spokesperson said.
In line with international maritime security protocols, the Ghana Armed Forces have alerted neighboring countries about the attack through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra.
This move is aimed at enhancing regional cooperation in tracking the suspected kidnappers.
Regional collaboration to track perpetrators
Authorities have emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration in such cases, urging neighboring nations to support efforts to track down the perpetrators.
“Cross-border collaboration is essential in such cases, and we are counting on our partners to assist in finding the perpetrators,” the spokesperson added.
Commitment to maritime security
Efforts are currently underway to locate and rescue the kidnapped crew members, with intelligence agencies intensifying their search.
The authorities have assured the public of their commitment to combating maritime piracy and ensuring the safety of vessels operating within Ghanaian waters.
The Ghana Navy, together with international maritime partners, is expected to step up surveillance and patrols in the Gulf of Guinea to prevent further pirate attacks and protect seafarers operating in the region.
