'Cocaine vessel' on fire at Tema

Tema, May 11, GNA - The fishing trawler MV "Benjamin" that was impounded last Thursday with three Ghanaians and two Chinese for attempting to bring into the country cocaine, had its cabin destroyed in a fire out break at the Tema Fishing Harbour where it had been docked. Ironically, neither electrical connections nor machinery were functioning on the vessel and two Ghana Navy personnel are guarding it at the time the fire broke out.

Eye witnesses told newsmen that the fire started at 0810 hours and it took firemen from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) about 20 minutes to bring it under control.

The witness said mattresses, refrigerators and beds got burnt. Captain Ayimah Danso (rtd) a National Security Coordinator attached to the fishing harbour said fire cannot occur on a vessel that has its machinery and all electrical connections not functioning. He said investigations would be conducted into it to ascertain the actual cause of the fire.

Mr Kwadwo Adansi Bonna, General Manager of the Fishing Harbour branch of the GPHA, said the vessel called at the port six times in 2004 and the last call was on February 03 in 2005.

The trawler is being investigated for its involvement in cocaine transportation from South Africa to Ghana. It was arrested on the high seas following intelligence report on them and all the five-member crew are in custody.

The suspects are Isaac Arhin, 49, the security officer in the trawler, James Kingsley Incoom, sailor, 42 and Philip Bruce Arhin, 49 mechanic all Ghanaians, while the Chinese are Cui Xiangli, 43 a mechanic and Luo Jwxwgi, 49, a sailor.