Suspected Pirates Attack Ghanaian Fishing Vessel, Kidnap Captain and Crew Members

The Ghana Navy has launched an investigation into a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel MENGXIN 1, which occurred in Ghanaian waters on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025.

A press release issued by the Ghana Armed Forces on Saturday, March 29, confirmed that the attack occurred around 5:53 PM when seven armed individuals boarded the vessel and fired warning shots.

The sudden assault forced several crew members to take refuge in a secure area of the ship. The pirates stayed on board for approximately three hours, during which they gathered the crew on deck and confiscated their mobile phones.

Once the pirates left, the remaining crew members discovered that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer — all Chinese nationals — were missing and are believed to have been kidnapped.

The unaffected crew members sailed closer to shore to report the incident, as there was no mobile network coverage at sea.

The vessel has since safely docked at the Tema Fishing Harbour, where Marine Police and Naval Intelligence personnel from the Eastern Naval Command conducted initial investigations. The abduction has been confirmed.

In response to the attack, information has been shared with neighboring countries through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, as part of the Yaoundé Architecture for maritime security.

This collaboration seeks to involve regional nations in the search for the kidnappers.

Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, assured the public that intelligence agencies are working diligently to locate and rescue the kidnapped crew members.

The Ghana Navy has also emphasized its ongoing collaboration with regional and international partners to address piracy and ensure the safety of vessels operating in Ghanaian waters.