Accra, Ghana, October 22, 2026: Seven Ghanaian fishermen who went missing during a fishing expedition have been located in Togo’s territorial waters, with efforts underway to secure their safe return to Ghana.
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson disclosed the development on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, saying authorities had established contact with the crew and were engaging their Togolese counterparts to facilitate their return.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Mr Nelson said the Togo Navy had been informed of the situation.
He said the immediate priority was to ensure that the fishermen were brought home safely.
The crew members were aboard a fishing canoe named Second Chance, which left Sekondi Fishing Harbour on October 9 for a fishing expedition off Axim in the Western Region.
The canoe failed to return as expected, prompting its owner, Nana Kweku Atta, to report the disappearance to the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on October 18.
Engine failure suspected
The Western Regional Marine Police Command subsequently coordinated a search operation involving the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Fisheries Commission, coastal police stations and fishing communities.
Preliminary information suggested that the canoe had suffered engine failure and drifted away from its intended fishing grounds. Its last known position had initially remained uncertain.
A report by MyJoyOnline on October 21 said one of the crew members, Kwame Akyim, had made contact by telephone and reported that the canoe's outboard motor had failed, leaving the men stranded at sea.
He described difficult conditions, including limited food supplies and difficulties obtaining drinking water. These details were reported by the crew member and had not been independently confirmed by the authorities in the available reports.
The subsequent confirmation that the crew were in Togolese waters provided a significant development in the search.
Ghana and Togo coordinate response
The involvement of Togolese authorities highlights the need for cooperation between neighbouring countries when maritime emergencies extend beyond national territorial waters.
The Ghanaian authorities are continuing to work with their Togolese counterparts to facilitate the fishermen's safe return.
The latest report confirms that the crew have been located, but it does not establish that they have already been rescued or returned to Ghana.
The incident has also drawn attention to the risks faced by fishing crews when vessels suffer mechanical failures far from shore.
For fishing communities that depend on the sea for their livelihoods, reliable communication, functioning engines, emergency equipment and coordinated search-and-rescue arrangements are essential to reducing the risks associated with fishing expeditions.
The immediate priority remains the safe return of all seven crew members to their families.
