The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to strengthen the Ghana Navy’s capabilities following a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel Mengxin 1 on 27th March 2025.
In a statement, the caucus urged the government to expedite the procurement of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to heighten maritime security.
“It is critical that we equip the Ghana Navy with the necessary resources to protect our waters. The absence of OPVs has made Ghanaian waters vulnerable to pirate attacks,” the statement read in parts.
The Minority also cited an aborted attempt in 2024 to acquire OPVs under the previous government, which was opposed by the now-ruling party.
“Pirates are aware of our Navy’s limitations, and they will continue to exploit these security gaps unless action is taken. We therefore urge the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defence to recommence the procurement process, with our full support,” the Minority affirmed.
Despite Ghana’s ranking among the most peaceful countries in Africa, the Minority has cautioned that recent security lapses could threaten this reputation.
“Under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana must not become a safe haven for pirates, drug traffickers, and money launderers,” they concluded.
The incident occurred in Ghanaian waters on the evening of Thursday, 27 March 2025, at approximately 5:53 PM when seven armed individuals boarded the vessel and fired warning shots.
The sudden assault forced several crew members to seek refuge in a safe area on the ship.
The pirates remained on board for about three hours, during which they assembled the crew on deck and confiscated their mobile phones.
A Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer—all Chinese nationals were reported missing after the attack but Chinese authorities have confirmed they are all safe.
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