Two fishermen from Tema Manhean have been confirmed dead after an alleged clash with the security of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) on the sea when they went for a fishing expedition on Thursday dawn.
It is unclear what led to the collision between the fishermen and the security at sea leading to the death of the two fishermen.
Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture in May 2023 announced that the close season which commenced on July 1, 2023, will end on July 31, 2023, but the Ga traditional council since the inception of the close season in 2016 has made some arrangements with the Ministry of Fisheries which allow a designated team to go for fishing in order to get some fish for the annual Homowo festival as custom demands.
The close season is the period when fishermen are banned from going fishing for the stipulated month or number of days that the government indicates.
The Tema Awudum Chief Fisherman Nii Odametey II, speaking on the dreadful matter said “The Ga communities were in their festival period, and they had an arrangement with the Ministry for such an expedition, adding that all the security agencies were aware as that was the normal practice since the closed season commenced four years ago”.
“The crew went fishing at about 00:00 hours on Thursday, adding, however, that at about 03:30 to 04:00 hours, they received a report that they were on duty when GPHA’s security allegedly beat them, leading to the deaths of the two”.
He added that the incident was reported to the police, and personnel visited the canoe beach to verify the death, after which the bodies were deposited at the International Maritime Hospital mortuary in Tema Community Three.
According to him, the security must know better since the Ga Traditional Council has the clearance to fish for their festival during this season as Homowo is celebrated in August every year.
The night security Mr. Yasil Arafat Ali, also revealed that twelve fishermen were on the boat which allegedly collided with the GPHA security canoe on the sea.
Mr. Ali, narrating the story based on what the ten who survived the incident said, indicated that at about 04:30 hours the fishermen after casting their net for some time on the upper part of the sea, did not get the fish species they needed and therefore decided to head downwards to try their luck.
In the process, they spotted the GPHA launch approaching them from upwards, and without any questions, they ran over their canoe with the launch, capsizing it.
This sent them into the water, and after gaining their composure and turning off the canoe, they realized that the two deceased fishermen were in it.
Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the Fishing Harbour Mr. Isaac Tawiah said they have begun an investigation into the matter to fish out what could have led to the death of the two fishermen.
Residents of Tema Newtown upon hearing the news rushed to the scene to catch a glimpse of the dead bodies.
Video of residents looking on sadly as the dead bodies were being taken away to the morgue