Ghanaian fishermen recount how they survived on fresh fish when they got stranded at sea

A group of seven fishermen from Sekondi found themselves stranded at sea for nearly two weeks after their canoe's outboard motor malfunctioned on October 9, 2026. In an interview, 29-year-old Kwamena Nkum recounted how they ran out of provisions just five days after the engine failure, leaving them relying on their catch and ultimately burning parts of their canoe for sustenance.

The men struggled to fix the engine but ultimately gave up, and their situation grew dire as they resorted to consuming seawater, filtering it to reduce salt content. They managed to catch fresh fish using hooks and lines for a while, but eventually ran out of charcoal to cook, forcing them to burn wood from their damaged vessel.

After drifting for days, one fisherman managed to locate land, alerting his companions via mobile phone. They then reached out to their fishing leaders and the local chief, who contacted Benin authorities. The fishermen were eventually located in Beninese waters and rescued by Beninese and Togolese navies. They received food and assistance from local fishing communities before being transported to the Ghana Navy at the Ghana-Togo border on October 21, 2026.

Referring to the experience, Mr Nkum highlighted the importance of having a backup outboard motor for future expeditions.