The Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) has sounded the alarm over rising threats to fishing communities and offshore vessels after more than 70 Ghanaian canoe fishermen were attacked and robbed at gunpoint while fishing off the Central Region coast. The group’s call comes amid concerns that inadequate maritime protection is endangering lives and livelihoods across the country’s fishing sector.

In a press statement dated Friday, 27 February 2026, GITA expressed “heartfelt sympathy” to the victims and their families, as well as to the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), after the incident occurred near Senya Bereku. The fishermen were reportedly assaulted by armed assailants who fired warning shots, seized outboard motors, generators and other equipment, and left them stranded at sea before being rescued by security forces.

“No Ghanaian fisherman, whether Artisanal, Inshore, or Industrial, should have to risk his life simply to earn a living,” the association said, highlighting the shared concern of workers across the fishing value chain.

GITA commended the swift and coordinated response of the Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, Marine Police, the Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU), the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the Chief Fisherman of Senya Breku, noting that their intervention saved lives and brought the surviving fishermen safely ashore.

Growing Risks in Ghana’s Waters

The association’s statement warns that the attack reflects a broader security shortfall in Ghana’s territorial waters. “Our waters have not been as safe as they should be,” GITA said, underlining the fact that if heavily populated canoe fleets can be targeted, industrial vessels operating offshore could be deliberate targets too — especially considering the high value of their catch, machinery and personnel.

GITA cited previous incidents in Ghana’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and Gulf of Guinea, including armed attacks, robbery and crew kidnappings, to underline the severity of the threat. While most recent events have involved local fishing craft, piracy has historically affected larger vessels as well.

Policy Context: Fisheries and Aquaculture Act

The association noted that with the recent **passage and assent of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), Ghana’s Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) now extends to 12 nautical miles, offering greater protection for artisanal and inshore fishers from industrial encroachment. However, GITA stressed that regulatory reforms must be matched with substantial investments in maritime safety and enforcement capabilities. “We cannot tighten operational boundaries without strengthening security coverage,” the group said.

Call for Inter‑Agency Collaboration

GITA urged the government to strengthen a coordinated and visible maritime security framework, involving key institutions such as:

• The Ghana Navy
• Marine Police
• Fisheries Enforcement Unit
• Ghana Maritime Authority
• Fisheries Commission
• National Security

The association said such collaboration would improve surveillance, rapid response and deterrence at sea — helping to prevent future robberies and protect coastal communities.

Toward a National Conversation on Protection

While emphasising the need for state‑led security patrols, GITA also suggested that if adequate protection cannot be guaranteed within lawful operating zones, the government must initiate a structured and lawful dialogue on vessel self‑protection mechanisms under national security laws. “The safety of Ghanaian lives at sea cannot be left to chance,” the association said.

GITA concluded its statement by reaffirming its readiness to work with all stakeholders to restore confidence, strengthen maritime safety and protect livelihoods across Ghana’s fisheries sector, insisting that insecurity in the country’s waters must never become normalised.