Seven missing fishermen make contact after a week adrift at sea

Seven fishermen who had been adrift at sea for over a week have reportedly made contact by phone, stating that their vessel, Second Chance, is stranded far offshore following an engine failure, according to TV3 News reporter Abraham Mensah. One of the crew members, Kwame Akyim, 42, informed Mensah that their outboard motor had ceased to function, leaving the seven men drifting in open waters.

He further disclosed that strong tides had carried the canoe more than 120 nautical miles offshore. Akyim reported that they had limited food and were forced to resort to consuming the fish they had caught, while also boiling seawater for drinking purposes. Despite their challenging situation, Akyim stated that the crew members were generally in stable condition, though one had experienced stomach pain.

He expressed frustration over the failure to attract the attention of passing vessels, alleging that no one was responding to their distress call. The Western Regional Marine Police Command had initiated a coordinated search for the canoe and its seven crew members after the vessel failed to return from a fishing expedition off Axim on October 9.

The search involved the Ghana Navy, Ghana Maritime Authority, Fisheries Commission, relevant coastal police stations, and fishing communities.