Seven fishermen vanish at sea as police launch search for ‘Second Chance’

The Western Regional Police Command has launched a coordinated search for seven fishermen and their missing canoe, Second Chance, after the vessel failed to return from a fishing expedition offshore Axim, raising concerns about the crew’s safety.

According to a police statement dated October 20, 2026, the canoe left the Sekondi Fishing Harbour on October 9 for a fishing trip but had not returned as of the time the report was made public.

The canoe’s owner, Nana Kweku Atta, reported the disappearance to the Fishing Harbour Police Station in Sekondi on October 18, after repeated attempts to contact the crew proved unsuccessful.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the canoe may have suffered engine failure and drifted towards Tema and the Volta coast. However, the police say its last known position has not yet been confirmed.

The Western Regional Marine Police Command is working with the Ghana Navy, Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Fisheries Commission and fishing communities to locate the missing vessel and its seven crew members.

The Western Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command in Tema, relevant coastal police stations, chief fishermen and other stakeholders have also been alerted to support the search operation.

Police say efforts are underway to establish the canoe’s last known location and determine the whereabouts of the crew.

Fishing communities along the coast have been urged to report any sightings of Second Chance or information that could assist the operation to the nearest police station.

The disappearance has prompted a coordinated response involving maritime authorities, security agencies, and coastal communities as efforts continue to locate the fishermen.

As of the October 20 statement, the police had not confirmed the canoe’s location or the condition of the seven crew members.

EA