The Ghana Navy is investigating a suspected pirate attack on a Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, Mengxin 1, which occurred on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025. 

According to preliminary reports, seven armed individuals boarded the ship at approximately 5:53 PM and fired warning shots, forcing several crew members to take cover in a safe area. 

The assailants remained on board for about three hours, during which they gathered the crew on deck and confiscated their mobile phones.

Following the attack, the crew discovered that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer— all Chinese nationals—were missing, leading authorities to suspect they had been kidnapped. 

Without mobile network coverage at sea, the crew had to sail closer to land before reporting the incident. 

The vessel has since safely docked at the Tema Fishing Harbour, where the Marine Police and Naval Intelligence officers conducted initial interrogations. 

“We are treating this as a serious maritime security threat and are working closely with intelligence agencies to locate and rescue the missing crew,” said a Ghana Navy spokesperson.

The Ghana Armed Forces have alerted neighboring countries about the attack through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, in accordance with the Yaoundé Architecture for maritime security. 

This move aims to enhance regional cooperation in tracking the suspected kidnappers. 

“Cross-border collaboration is essential in such cases, and we are counting on our partners to assist in finding the perpetrators,” the spokesperson added.

Efforts are currently underway to locate and rescue the kidnapped crew members, with intelligence agencies intensifying their search. 

Authorities have assured the public of their commitment to combating maritime piracy and ensuring the safety of vessels operating in Ghanaian waters. 

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