By Sarah Baafi
The Ghana Navy is investigating a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, MENGXIN 1, which occurred on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025. The attack, which took place in Ghanaian waters, has left four crew members missing and feared kidnapped.
According to preliminary reports, seven armed individuals boarded the vessel at approximately 5:53 PM, firing warning shots and forcing the crew to assemble on deck. Several crew members managed to hide in a safe area during the ordeal. The pirates remained on board for three hours, confiscating mobile phones before leaving the ship.
After their departure, the crew discovered that the Captain, Chief Mate, Chief Engineer, and one other crew member and all Chinese nationals were missing. The vessel sailed closer to land before reporting the incident due to a lack of mobile network coverage at sea.
The ship has since docked safely at Tema Fishing Harbour. The Marine Police and Naval Intelligence personnel from the Eastern Naval Command have confirmed the attack and are working with intelligence agencies to locate and rescue the missing crew members.
In addition, information about the incident has been shared with neighboring countries through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra as part of regional efforts under the Yaoundé Architecture for maritime security.
Authorities have assured the public that all efforts are being made to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped crew members. Investigations are ongoing.
Statement below:
2 Responses
This is a wake-up call for our Ghanaian security forces