By Hebrews Pouyeli Kumako
Emotions of relief and gratitude filled Ngyeresia as the Western Regional executives of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG), the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, the Western Naval Command and other dignitaries joined the fishing community to welcome seven fishermen rescued after spending 12 days stranded at sea.
The welcome ceremony followed the safe return of the crew of Second Chance, whose fishing expedition turned into a prolonged ordeal after an outboard motor failure left their canoe drifting across maritime boundaries into Beninese waters.
The fishermen departed on October 9, 2026, and were located on October 21 through a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving the Ghana, Togo and Benin navies, maritime authorities and local fishermen. They were subsequently returned safely to Ghana on October 22.
The presence of the Fisheries Minister, CaFGOAG regional executives and naval officials at Ngyeresia underscored the importance of cooperation between government, security agencies, fishing associations and coastal communities in protecting the lives and livelihoods of artisanal fishers.
Renewed Call for Safety at Sea
The rescue has renewed calls for stronger safety measures within Ghana’s artisanal fishing sector, particularly in the areas of vessel maintenance, emergency communication and access to tracking technology.
At the welcome ceremony, Hon. Emelia Arthur expressed appreciation to Togo and Benin for their assistance, describing the successful operation as evidence of the value of regional maritime cooperation. She also urged fishing stakeholders to make safety a shared responsibility and prepare adequately before embarking on fishing expeditions. <Cite refs={[“turn786282search0″,”turn786282search1”]}/>
The incident has also highlighted the risks fishermen face when engines fail far from shore, where strong currents and limited communication can complicate rescue efforts.
For the seven fishermen and their families, their safe return marks the end of nearly two weeks of uncertainty. For the wider fishing community, their rescue is a reminder that protecting lives at sea requires preparedness, cooperation and sustained attention to maritime safety.
Source News Volta
