Ada foah: Officers from the Eastern Naval Command seized fishing equipment from fisherfolk along the Ada Foah coastline in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region. The operation, which took place on Thursday night, January 22, was carried out on suspicion of smuggling activities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the officers were pursuing a boat believed to be transporting smuggled items when they intercepted and confiscated fishing gear from approximately 20 fishing canoes at sea. The affected fishers claimed they were not involved in illegal fishing and expressed distress over the incident. They have called upon the government and the Ada East District Assembly to assist in retrieving their equipment.
Mr. Tetteh Ayikpa, a canoe owner whose equipment was seized, reported that the officers engaged in a verbal exchange with the fisherfolk before taking items such as standby generators, bulbs, and other fishing gear. Mr. Ayikpa acknowledged their participation in light fishing but argued that it should not be deemed illegal, explaining that lights are used to attract fish for harvesting.
Despite light fishing being classified under sector laws as part of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, the fisherfolk asserted that their tools were legitimate. Reports from sources within the Navy indicated that several complaints about light fishing activities along the Ada-Volta coastline had been received, leading to heightened monitoring efforts.
The seized items are currently held at the Eastern Naval Base in Tema. The Navy is working with the Fisheries Commission to decide the next steps. As of now, the Eastern Naval Command has not released an official statement regarding the operation at Ada Foah.