Photos: All seven missing Sekondi fishermen rescued in Benin waters

Seven fishermen reported missing at sea since 18 October 2026 have been rescued, the Western Regional Marine Police Command has announced.

In a statement dated October 22, 2026, the command said the men were rescued on 21 October 2026 at around 2200 hrs in Benin territorial waters by local fishermen. The statement was signed by Chief Superintendent Olivia Et Adiku, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Western Regional Police Command.

The police named the seven men as Kofi Emmanuel, 32; Uncle Amoah, 45; Kwamena Nkum, 29; Kofi Aboagye, 36; Doboa, 35; Agya Badu, 42; and Kwamena Akyem, 40.

The police said the Marine Police Command, the Ghana Navy, and their counterparts in Benin and Togo are coordinating to facilitate the fishermen’s safe repatriation to Ghana. They said further updates would be communicated.

A social media post by Mubarick Masawudu on Thursday said the seven fishermen were safe on board the Ghana Navy vessel GNS Aflao, which was making its way to Tema Harbour while towing their canoe, Second Chance. He gave an estimated arrival time of about 1630 hrs.

The post also thanked the Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS) and the Maritime Security and Safety Regulation (MSSR) units of the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Ghana Navy, and other agencies involved in the search and rescue.

How the search began

The canoe, Second Chance, failed to return from a fishing expedition offshore Axim. Its owner, Nana Kweku Atta, reported the incident at the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on 18 October, saying the canoe left Sekondi Fishing Harbour on 9 October. 

The Marine Police Command then coordinated a search involving the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Fisheries Commission, and fishing communities. In a statement on 20 October, police said repeated attempts to contact the crew had been unsuccessful.