The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to urgently enhance Ghana’s maritime security by resuming the stalled procurement process for Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Ghana Navy.
Their demand follows a recent pirate attack on a Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, Mengxin 1, which resulted in the kidnapping of its crew members, mainly Chinese nationals.
“With pirates aware of Ghana’s naval deficiencies, the lack of offshore patrol vessels leaves our waters vulnerable to further attacks,” the Minority stated, emphasizing the urgent need for deterrent measures.
At a press conference on Tuesday, April 1, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South, urged the Ministries of Finance and Defense to prioritize the purchase of two OPVs, restart the procurement process, and seek parliamentary approval for acquisition.
The call comes in response to the March 27, 2025 attack, where seven armed individuals boarded Mengxin 1, fired warning shots, and confiscated crew members’ mobile phones.
Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie confirmed that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—all Chinese nationals—were missing and presumed kidnapped.
After navigating closer to land due to poor network coverage, the remaining crew reported the incident, and the vessel safely docked at Tema Fishing Harbour. Marine Police and Naval Intelligence have since launched investigations.
Authorities have also engaged ECOWAS’ Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) to assist in tracking the attackers.
“All efforts are being made by intelligence agencies to locate and free the crew,” Brigadier General Aggrey-Quashie assured.
With rising threats in Ghana’s territorial waters, the Minority insists that acquiring OPVs is critical to safeguarding the nation’s maritime security against future attacks.
