Search Underway for Missing Canoe and Seven Crew Members

A tense search operation is underway along Ghana’s coastline as marine police, naval officers, and local fishing communities race to find a missing fishing canoe and its seven-man crew.

The vessel, named Second Chance, departed the Sekondi Fishing Harbour on October 9 for a routine fishing expedition offshore Axim. It was expected back, but it never returned.

According to a press release issued by the Western Regional Police Command, the canoe’s owner, Nana Kweku Atta, officially reported the vessel missing at the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on October 18.

Preliminary investigations paint a worrying picture. Police say repeated attempts to reach the crew via radio or phone have been unsuccessful. A subsequent update received by authorities suggests the Second Chance may have suffered an engine failure while at sea. It is believed the vessel then drifted eastward toward Tema and the Volta coast.

However, police emphasize that the canoe’s exact last known position has not yet been confirmed.

The Western Regional Marine Police Command is now coordinating a multi-agency search effort. They are working closely with the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), and the Fisheries Commission. The Western Naval Command, relevant coastal police stations, and chief fishermen have all been alerted to keep a lookout.

The search has also been extended to the Eastern Naval Command in Tema, given the possibility that the current may have carried the stricken vessel in that direction.

Authorities are appealing to the public, particularly those living along the coast to assist. Fishing communities are being urged to report any sightings or information regarding the Second Chance or its crew to the nearest police station immediately.

The Police say they are working tirelessly with the relevant agencies to establish the canoe’s location and bring the seven crew members home