The Ghana Navy has launched an investigation into a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, Mengxin 1, which took place on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025.
Initial reports indicate that around 5:53 PM, seven armed individuals stormed the vessel, firing warning shots that forced several crew members to seek refuge in a secure area.
The attackers remained on board for approximately three hours, during which they assembled the crew on deck and seized their mobile phones.

After the attack, the crew realized that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—all Chinese nationals—were missing, raising suspicions that they had been kidnapped.
Lacking mobile network coverage at sea, the crew had to navigate closer to shore before they could report the incident.
The vessel has since safely berthed at the Tema Fishing Harbour, where Marine Police and Naval Intelligence officers have begun initial investigations.
“We are treating this as a serious maritime security threat and are working closely with intelligence agencies to locate and rescue the missing crew,” said a Ghana Navy spokesperson.
The Ghana Armed Forces have informed neighboring countries about the attack through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, in line with the Yaoundé Architecture for maritime security.
This initiative seeks to strengthen regional collaboration in locating and apprehending the suspected kidnappers.
“Cross-border collaboration is essential in such cases, and we are counting on our partners to assist in finding the perpetrators,” the spokesperson added.
Efforts are currently underway to locate and rescue the kidnapped crew members, with intelligence agencies intensifying their search.
Authorities have assured the public of their commitment to combating maritime piracy and ensuring the safety of vessels operating in Ghanaian waters.