Rescued Fishermen Break Silence

Seven fishermen from Ghana who went missing during a fishing expedition have recounted their harrowing experience after being rescued on October 21, 2026. The crew from Ngyiresia, a suburb of Sekondi, departed on October 9 for a voyage offshore Axim but never returned. Local fishermen discovered the seven men, including Stephen Quansah, Kobena Kum, Uncle Amoah, Kwasi Emmanuel, Kwame Abedu, Kwamena Komfo, and Kwamena Akyem, in Benin territorial waters at around 10:00 p.m. on October 21.

The fishermen revealed that their boat's outboard motor failed, leaving them at the mercy of the elements. Mr. Quansah, also known as Kwabena Awil, explained that their motor's breakdown forced them to rely on the currents. The high sea currents carried them from Ghana through Togo into Benin waters. Their first desperate memory was the silence they encountered when nearby ships did not respond to their distress signals.

The crew wept and struggled to keep the boat afloat as they sought to avoid an approaching storm. They managed to contact another vessel, which warned them about the dangerous area nearby and suggested leaving immediately. The crew complied, only to be carried back out to sea by the currents.

As night fell, the crew faced their most terrifying moment when a large dark figure emerged from the darkness above them. They quickly realized they had been carried back into deep sea. The crew remained calm and prayed relentlessly, eventually drifting into Togo waters. It was only when they crossed into Benin's territorial waters that they picked up a mobile phone signal, allowing them to make contact with their families and be rescued.

The rescue involved the Navies of Ghana, Togo, and Benin, along with local fishermen from Benin. The crew was reunited with their families on October 23, 2026, after nearly two weeks at sea.