By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Accra, Feb. 27, GNA — Vice Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu (Rtd), immediate past Chief of the Naval Staff of Ghana has described the recent armed robbery attack on artisanal fishermen off Senya Beraku as a disturbing development that warrants heightened maritime security vigilance in the Gulf of Guinea.
The incident, which occurred on February 26, about four kilometres off the coast of Senya Beraku in the Central Region, involved armed assailants who reportedly fired warning shots before robbing approximately 50 fishermen of outboard motors, communication radios and other personal belongings.
Vice Admiral Yakubu (Rtd.), who is also chair of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute (GOGMI), analysing the incident, said the attack was highly unusual, noting that artisanal fishermen were rarely targeted in traditional piracy operations.
“It is incredibly rare for pirates or armed robbers at sea to target artisanal fishermen. The risk-benefit profile does not align with the traditional piracy model we are familiar with in the Gulf of Guinea,” he stated.
He explained that piracy in the region historically focused on high-value commercial vessels, oil tankers, or kidnappings for ransom, rather than small-scale fishing operations with relatively low-value equipment.
The retired naval chief also raised concerns about what he described as a logistical puzzle surrounding the attack.
“It is highly unlikely that the perpetrators originated locally with the intention of disposing of stolen outboard motors within Ghana, because such items would quickly attract attention through established local monitoring networks,” he said.
He also observed that it would be economically irrational for criminal elements to travel long distances merely to steal comparatively low-value fishing gear.
“If the traditional piracy model and local theft hypothesis do not fit, then we must broaden our threat assessment,” he cautioned.
He indicated that security agencies could not rule out the possibility of emerging asymmetric threats, including elements testing maritime vulnerabilities or seeking to disrupt local coastal economies.
He stated that it was therefore critical to understand the true motive behind the attack, stressing that “We must examine whether this was an isolated armed robbery or a potential indicator of a shifting security dynamic in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Vice Admiral Yakubu (Rtd) stressed that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for maritime security authorities in Ghana and across the sub-region, emphasising the need to accelerate plans to strengthen coastal surveillance systems and enhance naval operational capabilities.
“Efforts to equip the Ghana Navy and other maritime security agencies must not be delayed. Coastal surveillance infrastructure and high-endurance offshore patrol vessels are essential in safeguarding our waters,” he noted.
He further warned that as neighbouring countries strengthened their maritime and border security frameworks, criminal networks could exploit weaker points.
“Crime flows in the direction of least resistance. We cannot afford to allow our coastal waters to become that path of least resistance,” he said.
He assured the public that security operations were ongoing to track and apprehend the perpetrators, adding that inter-agency collaboration remained critical in addressing maritime threats.
Vice Admiral Yakubu reiterated that Ghana remained committed to preserving stability in its territorial waters and maintaining its role in regional maritime security cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo