Police coordinate search for missing canoe and seven crew members

The Western Regional Police Command is leading a search for a fishing canoe, Second Chance, and its seven crew members, who have been missing at sea since the vessel left Sekondi Fishing Harbour more than a week ago.

The Western Regional Marine Police Command is working with the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the Fisheries Commission and fishing communities along the coast.

The canoe’s owner, Nana Kweku Atta, reported the matter at the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on October 18.

He told police the vessel left the harbour on October 9 for a fishing expedition offshore Axim and had not returned.

Police said preliminary investigations showed that repeated attempts to reach the crew had been unsuccessful.

A later update suggested the canoe may have suffered engine failure and drifted towards Tema and the Volta coast.

Police stressed, however, that the vessel’s last known position has not been confirmed.

The Western Naval Command, the GMA, the Fisheries Commission, coastal police stations and chief fishermen have been alerted to assist in the search.

The Eastern Naval Command in Tema has also been notified, given the suggestion that the canoe may have drifted eastwards.

Police say they are working with the agencies involved to establish where the canoe was last seen and to locate the crew.

Fishing communities along the coast have been urged to report any sighting of the canoe, or any information about it, to the nearest police station.