Ghana Navy investigates suspected pirate attack, 3 crew members feared kidnapped

The Ghana Navy has initiated an investigation into a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, Mengxin 1, which occurred in Ghanaian waters on the evening of Thursday, March 27.

A press release from the Ghana Armed Forces, issued on Saturday, March 29, detailed that the attack took place around 5:53 PM when seven armed individuals boarded the vessel and fired warning shots.

The sudden assault forced several crew members to seek shelter in a secure area on the ship.

The pirates remained on board for nearly three hours, during which they gathered the crew on deck and confiscated their mobile phones.

Once the assailants left, it was discovered that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—all Chinese nationals—were missing, sparking concerns of a kidnapping.

Unable to report the incident due to lack of mobile network coverage at sea, the remaining unharmed crew sailed closer to shore to inform authorities.

The vessel has since arrived safely at Tema Fishing Harbour, where initial investigations by Marine Police and Naval Intelligence from the Eastern Naval Command have confirmed the attack and the likely abduction.

In response, intelligence has been shared with neighboring countries through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, as part of the Yaoundé Architecture for maritime security.

This coordinated effort aims to enhance regional cooperation in locating the suspected kidnappers.

Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, reassured the public that security agencies are intensifying efforts to locate and rescue the kidnapped crew members.

The Ghana Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with regional and international partners to tackle maritime security threats and safeguard vessels operating in Ghanaian waters.

Read the statement below.