Tema: Three Nigerian nationals were arrested by Tema Port authorities in 2020 after attempting to stow away to Europe aboard a cargo vessel. The suspects, Isaac Daniel, 32, Stephen Nuta, 28, and Kelvin Popoola, 26, reportedly boarded the vessel MV Unity at Nigeria's Apapa Port, believing it was bound for Spain in search of greener pastures. However, the ship instead sailed to Ghana to offload general goods at the Tema Port, where the men were discovered hiding in a confined space behind the vessel's propeller.
According to Ghana Web, the three stowaways are now in police custody after their failed attempt to reach Europe. They had boarded the vessel from Nigeria with hopes of finding better opportunities in Spain. Isaac Daniel, Stephen Nuta, and Kelvin Popoola sneaked onto the MV Unity, mistakenly thinking it was headed to their desired destination.
The vessel's actual route led them to Ghana, where they were discovered during the ship's unloading process. Security officials at the port found the men hiding in a small space behind the ship's propeller. They were found in possession of alcoholic beverages, provisions, and a hammer.
The suspects claimed they had managed to outsmart the vessel's workers and were hopeful about pursuing opportunities in Europe. Notably, Isaac Daniel had previously been arrested for a similar offense in 2019 and was deported to Nigeria with a package worth about $600.
Tema Port Security Manager, Col Punamane, highlighted the growing concern of stowaways being disembarked at Tema Port. He emphasized the need for measures to deter such attempts and prevent them from becoming appealing to the youth. Despite this incident, port authorities remain optimistic that cases of stowaways in 2020 will be minimized.