Seven Missing Ghanaian Fishermen Located in Togo’s Waters as Authorities Work to Bring Them Home

By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
21 OCTOBER 2026

Seven Ghanaian fishermen who went missing after embarking on a fishing expedition off the coast of Axim have been located in Togo’s territorial waters, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has confirmed.

The development offers renewed hope for the safe return of the fishermen, whose disappearance prompted a coordinated search involving Ghanaian security and maritime agencies.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, October 21, Nelson said authorities had established contact with the crew and were working with their Togolese counterparts to bring them safely back to Ghana.

“This afternoon, I had a briefing that some contact has been established with the crew and that their location is within Togolese waters,” the minister said.

He added that the Togolese Navy had been informed and that efforts were continuing to ensure the fishermen returned home safely.

Although the development represents a major breakthrough in the search, authorities have not yet confirmed that the fishermen have been brought back to Ghana.

How the fishermen went missing

The seven crew members were aboard a fishing canoe named Second Chance, owned by Nana Kweku Atta.

According to the Western Regional Marine Police Command, the canoe departed Sekondi Fishing Harbour on Friday, October 9, for a fishing expedition offshore Axim in the Western Region.

The vessel failed to return as expected, raising concerns about the whereabouts of the fishermen.

The canoe’s owner reported the disappearance to the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on Sunday, October 18, after repeated attempts to contact the crew proved unsuccessful.

The disappearance triggered a search operation involving several agencies, with authorities attempting to establish the canoe’s last known position and determine what might have happened at sea.

The search was complicated by uncertainty about the vessel’s location and the possibility that it had drifted away from its intended fishing grounds.

Suspected engine failure may have caused the drift

Preliminary information gathered during the search suggested that the canoe might have experienced engine failure while at sea.

Investigators believed the mechanical problem could have left the vessel drifting under the influence of currents and other sea conditions, potentially carrying it towards Tema and the Volta coast.

However, the police initially said the canoe’s last known position had not been confirmed.

The latest update from the Western Regional Minister now places the crew within Togolese waters, shifting the immediate focus from locating the fishermen to coordinating their safe return.

Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the precise circumstances that caused the canoe to enter Togo’s territorial waters.

Further details about the vessel’s condition, the fishermen’s welfare and how they will be transported home are expected as the operation progresses.

Ghana and Togo coordinate efforts

The Ghanaian search operation involved the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Fisheries Commission, coastal police stations and fishing communities.

The Western Naval Command and the Eastern Naval Command in Tema were also alerted to support efforts to locate the missing vessel.

With the crew now reportedly located in Togo’s waters, cooperation with the Togolese Navy has become central to the effort to bring them home.

The cross-border coordination highlights the importance of cooperation between neighbouring coastal countries when fishing vessels encounter difficulties or drift beyond their intended operating areas.

Authorities must establish the necessary arrangements to ensure the fishermen’s safe return while accounting for their location in another country’s territorial waters.

The Western Regional Minister’s statement suggests that communication has been established, but the operation remains ongoing until the crew are safely returned.

Families await their safe return

The location of the fishermen is likely to bring relief to their families and fishing communities, who have faced uncertainty since the canoe failed to return from its expedition.

Fishing remains an important source of employment and livelihood for coastal communities across Ghana. When a canoe disappears at sea, the consequences extend beyond the crew to the relatives and dependants who rely on their income.

The case also highlights the risks faced by fishermen who spend extended periods offshore, particularly when mechanical problems leave vessels unable to navigate safely.

Reliable communication equipment, functioning engines and timely reporting of emergencies can play an important role in maritime safety. The circumstances surrounding this incident will need to be established before any conclusions can be drawn about what caused the fishermen to become stranded.

For now, the immediate priority is ensuring that all seven crew members are safe and can return to their families.

What happens next?

The authorities’ next task is to complete arrangements with their Togolese counterparts and facilitate the fishermen’s return to Ghana.

Officials have not yet announced a confirmed arrival time or provided a detailed account of the crew’s condition.

The Ghanaian authorities are expected to provide further updates as the operation progresses and more information becomes available about the circumstances of the disappearance.

The case also underscores the importance of cooperation among maritime agencies, fishing communities and neighbouring countries when vessels go missing along the Gulf of Guinea coastline.

For the families of the seven fishermen, the most important outcome will be their safe return after nearly two weeks away from the harbour.

The breakthrough has provided hope, but the operation will not be complete until the fishermen are confirmed safe and back home.