The Ghana Navy has launched a manhunt for pirates following a brazen attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel Mengxin 1 in Ghanaian waters.
The assault occurred on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025, with armed assailants boarding the ship and firing warning shots before kidnapping three Chinese crew members.
According to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the attack unfolded around 5:53 PM when seven armed men stormed the vessel, forcing the crew to take cover.
The pirates seized mobile phones, held the crew on deck for nearly three hours, and fled with the ship’s Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer, who remain missing. The rest of the crew was unharmed, and the vessel later docked safely at Tema Fishing Harbour.
Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations for GAF, confirmed the incident, stating that locating and rescuing the abducted sailors is a top priority. The Navy is collaborating with intelligence agencies and regional partners to track the perpetrators.
Due to poor mobile network coverage at sea, the crew could only report the incident once they neared the coast. The Ghana Navy has since alerted neighboring countries through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, seeking regional support under the Yaoundé maritime security framework.
Security analysts have repeatedly flagged the Gulf of Guinea as a piracy hotspot, with this latest incident underscoring ongoing risks. Preliminary investigations by the Marine Police and Naval Intelligence confirm the abduction.
Authorities are urging the public and maritime operators to stay alert and report any suspicious activity that could aid in the rescue mission. The Navy’s pursuit of the pirates continues as search efforts intensify.