Mr. Jerome Deamesi, a Board Member of the Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA), has said that piracy and other criminal activities at sea can threaten the country’s fishing industry and have serious national and economic consequences.
The Ghana Navy, in a statement, indicated that it was investigating a suspected pirate attack on a Ghanaian registered fishing vessel, MENGXIN 1, in Ghanaian waters on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025.
The said piracy led to the suspected kidnapping of the captain, chief mate, and chief engineer, all Chinese nationals.
Mr. Deamesi, reacting to the piracy incident, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that such incidents would lead to the designation of Ghana’s waters as unsafe, explaining that if piracy and illegal activities persist, international authorities might declare the waters unsafe for navigation, which could deter shipping lines from operating in the area, leading to increased freight costs and delays in imports and exports.
“Ultimately, this will make goods more expensive for businesses and consumers,” he said, adding that it would also negatively impact trade and investment, as a maritime insecure reputation could discourage foreign investment in the fishing and shipping industries, weakening economic growth and job opportunities in the sector.
He further noted that another issue that could have a negative impact on the country’s trade was drug trafficking and national security risks, indicating that recent interceptions of hard drugs by the security agencies that were smuggled into the country via boat do not only harm the economy but also pose significant security threats, attracting more criminal activities to Ghana’s waters.
“It is rather unfortunate that this incident has occurred. It has been a long time since a trawl vessel was captured by robbers or pirates, the last known case being the Lu Rong Yuan Yu 917, which happened in February 2015.”
The GITA board member called for strengthening of security awareness, stating that all vessel operators and crew members must be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity, especially unknown skiffs approaching their location.
He also called for the training of fishermen to recognise the early warning signs of a possible attack.
Calling for reinforced emergency preparedness, he stated that “crew members should be reminded to use the panic button on the VMS device when in distress and follow security protocols to minimise risks. Drills on emergency responses, including how to react during a piracy attack, should be conducted regularly and during the closed season when they are all around.”
Mr. Deamesi further suggested that there must be enhanced security measures on vessels, noting that as part of training for seafarers, panic devices must be installed in multiple areas of the vessel.
“In the event of an attack, the bridge, where all warning equipment is located, is usually the first target. Having alternative panic buttons elsewhere on the vessel can improve response times and increase the chances of sending distress signals,” he said.
He noted that most piracy attacks happen under the cover of darkness, making it difficult for crew members to detect approaching threats; therefore, providing night vision glasses to the designated lookout personnel would improve visibility at night, allowing for early detection of suspicious skiffs and enhancing response time.
He also called on stakeholders to closely work with the Ghana Navy and maritime security agencies to increase surveillance in high-risk areas and ensure a swift response to threats.
“Notably, since the Navy started boarding tuna vessels, piracy cases in that sector have significantly decreased. Similar strategies could be explored for trawlers,” he stated, adding that the fishing industry must also engage with policymakers to push for better security frameworks, increased patrols, and stronger anti-piracy laws.
According to him, international partnerships and intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries could also help tackle the root causes of piracy as well as the use of the air force in the chasing of robbers and pirates.
The GITA board member also encouraged vessels to consider non-lethal defence mechanisms, such as water cannons, high-decibel alarms, and reinforced safe rooms where crew members could seek shelter during an attack, in addition to training programmes on crisis management for crew members, while improving communication and coordination with port authorities and nearby ships.
He stressed that ensuring the safety of Ghana’s waters was not just about protecting the maritime industry but also about safeguarding the national economy and security.
