Senya Breku: Police investigate attack on local fishermen

The Ghana Police Service is preparing to launch a comprehensive investigation into the attack on 71 fishermen off the coast of Senya Breku in the Central Region. This follows their rescue from the sea after a suspected pirate-style ambush.

The fishermen were brought ashore in batches through a coordinated operation involving the Marine Police and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), after reports indicated they had been abandoned in the water. Authorities have since confirmed that all 71 victims were rescued safely.

Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, said immediate steps were taken to ensure the well-being of the fishermen upon their return. According to her, officials set up a temporary desk to assess their health condition before allowing them to reunite with their families.

“The fishermen will surely go back to the sea, but it will take some time. When they came back, NADMO and the CID took their details. We got a desk to check their vitals because somebody may be hypertensive. From Friday, the police are going to do a bit more investigation,” she stated.

She explained that authorities deliberately allowed the victims time to rest before subjecting them to detailed questioning about the incident.

“We just allowed them to go home and rest due to the incident, so on Friday, the thorough investigation will start, talking to them about what happened. They will give their narration, and then we take it from there,” she added.

Initial accounts suggest the fishermen had embarked on their routine fishing expedition in the early hours of Thursday, February 26. However, while making their way back to shore, they were allegedly intercepted by armed men travelling in a black boat. The attackers reportedly opened fire before seizing outboard motors and generator sets from the fishing vessels.

The theft of the equipment left the fishermen stranded and exposed at sea until rescue teams were mobilised. The incident has raised fresh concerns about maritime security along parts of Ghana’s coastline, particularly in fishing communities that depend heavily on the sea for their livelihoods.

Police are expected to gather detailed testimonies from the victims as part of efforts to identify the perpetrators and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. The outcome of the investigation could also inform broader security interventions aimed at preventing similar incidents in coastal communities.