The Ghana Navy has initiated an investigation into a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, MENGXIN 1. The incident occurred in Ghanaian waters on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025. According to a press release from the Ghana Armed Forces issued on Saturday, March 29, the attack took place at approximately 5:53 PM, when seven armed individuals boarded the vessel and fired warning shots.
The sudden attack forced several crew members to seek refuge in a secure area of the ship. The pirates remained onboard for approximately three hours, during which they gathered the crew on deck and confiscated their mobile phones. After the pirates left, the crew discovered that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—all Chinese nationals—were missing and are believed to have been kidnapped.
The remaining crew members, who were unharmed, sailed closer to land to report the incident, as there was no mobile network coverage at sea. The vessel has since docked safely at the Tema Fishing Harbour, where the Marine Police and Naval Intelligence personnel from the Eastern Naval Command conducted initial interrogations. The incident and the suspected abduction have been confirmed.
In response to the attack, information has been shared with neighbouring countries through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, under the Yaoundé Architecture for maritime security. This collaborative effort aims to alert neighboring nations to assist in locating the kidnappers. Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, assured the public that intelligence agencies are making every effort to locate and rescue the kidnapped crew members.
The Ghana Navy added that it is working closely with regional and international partners to address the threat of piracy and ensure the safety of vessels operating in Ghanaian waters.
By: Abigail Arthur
