Robbers took personal belongings and outboard motors, the West African countrys military has said

Ghana's armed forces have reported the rescue of 71 fishermen after an armed attack on vessels off the country's central coast, concluding a search-and-rescue operation launched on Thursday.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the military said the operation began at dawn approximately 35 nautical miles off the coast of Gomoa Nyanyano and Senya Beraku in the Central Region after fishermen were attacked and left stranded at sea.

"The fishermen got stranded after they were attacked by robbers who disposed the entire fishermen of their outboard motors and personal belongings. Affected boats include Argentina 2, Argentina 3, Sea Lion, and Berema Nsukwa, among others," the statement read.

The Ghana Navy, with support from the country's air force and assistance from local fishermen, deployed special boat units equipped with fast interceptors, alongside vessels from its Eastern and Western Naval Commands. The operation resulted in the evacuation of 24 fishermen to Tema city and 47 to Senya Beraku residential area.

"Interviews from the fishermen rescued indicates that no Ghanaian fisherman has been kidnapped," the armed forces said.

On Friday, a local government official confirmed to the Associated Press that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the attack on the fishing vessels.

Ghana has a southern coastline on the Gulf of Guinea, which is vital for regional trade and fishing but has also become notorious for piracy and armed robbery at sea, with attacks targeting both commercial and fishing vessels. The Central Region of Ghana, where the recent fishing vessel attack occurred, lies directly on this coast, giving local communities access to the gulf's fishing grounds and maritime routes.

In January, the Nigerian Army saved a passenger boat traveling from Nigeria to Cameroon that was hijacked by suspected pirates near the Kombo Fishing Port along the CalabarCameroon waterways. Nigerian forces rescued all 18 passengers, including two infants, who were taken unharmed from the vessel.

(RT.com)