Ghana Trawlers Association Demands Urgent Action on Maritime Security

By Lois Amanor

The Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) has called for stronger maritime security after more than 70 canoe fishermen were attacked and robbed at gunpoint off the coast of Senya Bereku in the Central Region.

In a statement issued on Friday, 27 February 2026, GITA expressed sympathy to the victims, their families, and the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC). The association described the incident as a wake up call, warning that inadequate protection at sea is putting lives and livelihoods at risk.

According to reports, the fishermen were assaulted by armed men who fired warning shots, seized outboard motors, generators, and other equipment, and left them stranded at sea. They were later rescued by security forces. GITA said no Ghanaian fisherman, whether artisanal, inshore, or industrial, should have to risk his life simply to earn a living.

The association commended the swift response of the Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, Marine Police, the Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU), the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the Chief Fisherman of Senya Bereku. Their coordinated efforts ensured the safe return of the stranded fishermen.

GITA warned that if canoe fleets can be targeted, industrial vessels operating offshore could also become deliberate targets, given the high value of their catch, machinery, and crew. The association pointed to past incidents in Ghana’s exclusive economic zone and the wider Gulf of Guinea, including piracy, armed robbery, and kidnappings, as evidence of the growing threat.

The association noted that the recent passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), extended Ghana’s Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) to 12 nautical miles, offering greater protection for artisanal and inshore fishers. However, GITA stressed that regulatory reforms must be matched with investments in maritime safety. It said operational boundaries cannot be tightened without strengthening security coverage.

GITA urged government to strengthen inter agency collaboration among the Ghana Navy, Marine Police, Fisheries Enforcement Unit, Ghana Maritime Authority, Fisheries Commission, and National Security. Such cooperation, it said, would improve surveillance, rapid response, and deterrence at sea.

The association also suggested that if adequate protection cannot be guaranteed, government should open a lawful dialogue on vessel self protection mechanisms under national security laws. It emphasized that the safety of Ghanaian lives at sea cannot be left to chance.

GITA concluded by reaffirming its readiness to work with all stakeholders to restore confidence, strengthen maritime safety, and protect livelihoods across Ghana’s fisheries sector. It insisted that insecurity in the country’s waters must never become normalised.