The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has denied any encounter between a GPHA Boat and a Fishing Boat on Thursday, July 27, 2023, which reportedly resulted in the unfortunate death of two fishermen.
It has therefore asked the public to disregard media reports of the said encounter.
A statement issued and signed by Abena Serwaa Opoku Fosu, the Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of GPHA described the reports as false.
The statement revealed that the incident involved the Port Control Station receiving a distress call on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at approximately 0030HRS from MV. SEASPAN DUBAI.
The distress call was for assistance to ward off several fishing boats that had surrounded their vessel.
It said there was no direct contact or collision between the GPHA Boat and the fishing boat in question.
The unfortunate death of the two fishermen was not caused by any actions involving the GPHA, the statement said.
“The security patrol team which comprises the Ghana Navy, Marine Police and GPHA Security timeously responded, cautioned, and asked the said fishing boats to leave. That is at 0118HRS MT. MARINA ‘M’ which was also at the anchorage, also called the Port Control Station for assistance to ward off a suspicious-looking fishing boat with about nine occupants.”
“The team again responded by cautioning and directing the boat and its occupants to row out. On their way back, the Patrol Team chanced upon another set of fishermen who had cast their nets and were fishing
within the terminal 3 basins, close to a container vessel. The nets were seized, and the men were cautioned and led out of the basin,” Ms Fosu added.
“A call from the Fishing Harbour Police Unit announced the discovery of two dead bodies, which the fishermen had refused the police team to convey, with the assertion that, the two died as a result of a collision with a GPHA tugboat, an outright untruth,” the statement said.
“That despite these infractions, on occasions where we arrest fishermen and seize their nets, the Chief Fisherman and Elders are notified, and often the culprits are pardoned, and nets released without any fines,” she added.
“The Port Authority regrets the unfortunate passing of the two and extends its sincere condolences to their families and colleagues,” she added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
