Minority demands urgent action on Ghana’s maritime security

The Minority in Parliament is urging the government to improve Ghana’s maritime security. They want the procurement process for offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Ghana Navy to resume.

This demand follows a recent pirate attack on a Ghanaian fishing vessel. The attack resulted in the kidnapping of crew members, mostly Chinese nationals.

The Minority stated that pirates are aware of Ghana’s naval weaknesses. Without OPVs, our waters remain vulnerable to further attacks.

They urged the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defense to prioritize purchasing two OPVs. They also called for restarting the procurement process with parliamentary approval.

At a press conference on April 1, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour emphasized stronger security measures along Ghana's waters. The Minority believes acquiring OPVs is essential for protecting our maritime domain from threats.

Their call comes after a suspected pirate attack on the fishing vessel Mengxin 1 on March 27, 2025. Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie confirmed that seven armed individuals boarded the ship.

The attackers fired warning shots and took crew members' mobile phones. After three hours, they left with the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—all Chinese nationals—who are now missing.

The crew reported the incident after reaching land due to poor network coverage at sea. The vessel has safely docked at Tema Fishing Harbour for investigations by Marine Police and Naval Intelligence.

Authorities have informed neighboring countries through ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC). This is part of efforts to track down the attackers.

Brigadier General Aggrey-Quashie assured that intelligence agencies are working hard to locate and free the crew.