Navy vessel GNS Aflao deployed to rescue missing canoe and fishermen - Maritime Authority

The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has said it has deployed a Ghana Navy vessel as part of ongoing efforts to rescue seven fishermen aboard a distressed canoe.

The canoe, Second Chance, reportedly departed the Sekondi Fishing Harbour on October 9, 2026, for a fishing expedition offshore Axim but has yet to return.

Deputy Director-General of the GMA, Mubarik Masawudu, said the Authority was coordinating the rescue operation and reports of a rescue operation being abandoned are false.

Speaking on TV3's Daily Brief, Wednesday, October 21, he said as of 2 p.m., two approaches were being pursued to locate and rescue the fishermen.

"The information I can give to the general public is that as of 2pm this afternoon, we have embarked on two approaches to the rescue operation.

"The first being that we have deployed the Ghana navy Vessel GNS Aflao. On board the vessel is Marine Police Officers and some medics towards the location that we have gathered to be the location of the fishermen.

"So the operation has not stopped," he stated,

Masawudu said the rescue team was, however, working with limited and conflicting information about the canoe’s exact location.

He explained that the canoe’s lead fisherman had initially reported at about 10 a.m. that they were approximately 41 nautical miles south of Aflao.

However, descriptions of nearby landmarks, including a lagoon and ships at anchorage, did not match that location.

Based on the information provided, GMA officers suspected the fishermen could be south of Keta, rather than south of Aflao.

"For instance, they had indicated to our officers that they could see a lagoon and that they could see ships at anchorage. From experience from our officers, they think it is the Keta lagoon and they think that it is the ships at the Tema anchorage that they are saying and so certainly, it cannot be 41 miles South of Aflao.

"Our estimate is probably looking at the location it is South of Keta, that is where we think they are," Mubarik Masawudu added.

He explained that communication had also been difficult because the fishermen spoke Fante, making it challenging to establish their precise location.

According to Masawudu, the GNS Aflao vessel is expected to arrive in the area at about 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, fishermen from Aflao had been mobilised through the local chief fisherman to assist in the search, with their boats expected to reach the area within an hour.

"GN Aflao’s ETA is about 6pm tonight, the closest to their location is the fisherfolks in Aflao. Communication has gone to the Chief fisherman in Aflao and he also has deployed some boats to their area and their ETA is about one hour," he remarked.

The GMA noted that its is also working with the National Security apparatus to trace the fishermen’s location using mobile phone signals.

Mr Masawudu assured the public that the rescue operation was ongoing despite the challenges, adding that efforts were being made to establish the canoe’s location and reach the crew.