The Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) has condemned the recent pirate attack on artisanal fishers in Ghanaian waters and called for strengthened maritime security measures to protect lives and livelihoods.
In a press statement issued by Mr John Kenneth Arthur, General Secretary of the association, CaFGOAG described the attack during which outboard motors, generators, fuel and mobile phones were forcibly taken from fishers, as a criminal act that endangered lives and undermined national food security.
The association expressed empathy for the affected fishers and their families, stating that such incidents threatened the economic survival of coastal communities dependent on artisanal fishing.
CaFGOAG commended the swift response of the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Armed Forces, as well as the Marine Police, the Fisheries Commission and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), whose coordinated efforts led to the safe rescue of the affected crew.
It also praised the community of Senya Beraku and canoe owners who volunteered for canoes and outboard motors to support the rescue operation.
The association welcomed the government’s assurance of enhanced naval patrol capacity to strengthen surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response at sea.
CaFGOAG particularly commended President John Dramani Mahama for the decision to replace the stolen outboard motors to enable the affected fishers to resume their work promptly.
The statement applauded the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture for its commitment to improving canoe registration and licensing, introducing GPS and long-range communication systems, and rolling out insurance and pension schemes for fishers.
According to the association, these measures would significantly enhance safety, accountability, and social protection within the artisanal fisheries sector.
CaFGOAG recommended intensified awareness campaigns on maritime security for artisanal fishers, increased routine naval patrols in artisanal fishing zones and identified high-risk areas, and the mandatory installation of GPS tracking and distress alert systems on all registered canoes.
The association also proposed the establishment of a dedicated fisheries maritime security hotline linked to rapid response units, as well as strengthened intelligence-sharing mechanisms between fishing communities and state security institutions.
CaFGOAG reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that Ghana’s marine fisheries sector remained safe, resilient and sustainable.
By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA