Eastern Naval Command Seizes Fishing Gear from Fisherfolk at Ada Foah Amid Smuggling Allegations

On January 22, 2023, officers from the Eastern Naval Command confiscated fishing equipment from approximately 20 fishing canoes along the Ada Foah coastline in the Greater Accra Region, suspecting involvement in smuggling activities. The fisherfolk involved have asserted that their practices, including light fishing, are legitimate and have called on the government for assistance in retrieving their seized gear. The equipment is currently stored at the Eastern Naval Base in Tema, pending further action in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission. This operation is part of an intensified monitoring effort by the Navy in response to reports of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the area, which has raised concerns among local fishing communities.