Seven crew members are missing after their fishing canoe, Second Chance, failed to return from an expedition offshore Axim, prompting a coordinated search by the police and maritime authorities.
The canoe departed Sekondi Fishing Harbour on October 9, 2026, for the fishing expedition. Its owner, Nana Kweku Atta, reported the disappearance at the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on October 18.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 20, the Western Regional Marine Police Command said attempts to contact the crew had been unsuccessful, while the canoe’s last known position remained unconfirmed.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that repeated attempts to contact the crew had been unsuccessful. A subsequent update suggested that the canoe might have suffered engine failure and drifted towards Tema and the Volta coast. However, its last known position is yet to be confirmed,” the statement said.
The police are working with the Ghana Navy, Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Fisheries Commission and fishing communities to locate the canoe and its crew.
The Western Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command in Tema, relevant coastal police stations and chief fishermen have also been alerted to assist with the search.
The police said, “The Police are working with the relevant agencies to establish the canoe’s last known position and locate the crew. Fishing communities along the coast have been urged to report any sightings or information about the canoe to the nearest police station.”
The statement was signed by Olivia Et Adiku, Chief Superintendent of Police and Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Western Regional Police Command.
