Marine Police search for missing Second Chance canoe and seven crew

The Western Regional Marine Police Command has launched a search and rescue operation for a missing fishing canoe, named Second Chance, and its seven crew members. The vessel has been missing since October 9, 2026, when it departed from the Sekondi Fishing Harbour for a routine fishing expedition. After the canoe failed to return as scheduled, the owner, Nana Kweku Atta, reported the disappearance to the authorities, triggering a multi-agency response to locate the crew and their vessel.

Preliminary investigations by the Marine Police suggest that the Second Chance may have experienced a mechanical failure at sea. Experts believe that an engine malfunction likely left the vessel at the mercy of the ocean's currents, causing it to drift away from the Western Region. Based on current maritime patterns and navigational data, officials indicate the canoe may have drifted eastward toward the Tema and Volta coastal areas over the past 11 days.

The search effort is being coordinated in close collaboration with the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Maritime Authority. These agencies are working together to monitor coastal waters and have notified other vessels in the shipping lanes to be on the lookout for the drifting canoe. The Marine Police have also issued an urgent appeal to coastal communities along the Ghanaian shoreline, particularly those in the Greater Accra and Volta regions, to report any sightings of the Second Chance or its crew members to the nearest police station.

As the search operation continues, the disappearance underscores the ongoing risks faced by the artisanal fishing community and the importance of maritime safety protocols. The authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to the search, stating that all necessary resources are being deployed to ensure the safe return of the seven fishermen. Families of the missing crew members remain in contact with the Western Regional Marine Police Command as they await further updates on the rescue mission.