The Ghana Navy has launched an investigation into a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, MENGXIN 1, which was targeted in Ghanaian waters on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025.
According to a statement from the Ghana Armed Forces on Saturday, March 29, the assault occurred at approximately 5:53 PM when seven armed assailants boarded the vessel, firing warning shots.
The crew, caught off guard, sought refuge in a secure area as the attackers seized control of the ship for approximately three hours.
During the incursion, the pirates gathered the crew on deck and confiscated their mobile phones. Following their departure, the crew discovered that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—all Chinese nationals—were missing, raising concerns of a possible abduction.
With no mobile network coverage at sea, the remaining crew members, who were unharmed, navigated closer to land to report the incident. The vessel has since docked safely at the Tema Fishing Harbour, where Marine Police and Naval Intelligence personnel from the Eastern Naval Command conducted initial interrogations. Authorities have since confirmed the suspected abduction.
“Information on the incident has been shared with neighbouring countries through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, under the Yaounde Architecture for maritime security. This was to alert our neighbours to also look out for the kidnappers.
“Meanwhile, all efforts are being made by intelligence agencies to locate and free the crew of the ship,” the Ghana Armed Forces assured.
