The Ghana Navy has seized eight unregistered boats suspected to have been used for illegal fuel bunkering at New Takoradi and Poasi landing beaches in the Western Region.
The operation, conducted on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, by the Western Naval Command at Sekondi with support from the 2 Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces, followed intelligence indicating the use of unregistered vessels to transfer fuel and other petroleum products.
Dr Charles Teye, Western Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, told the media that preliminary checks showed the seized boats were not registered as fishing vessels.
He said the confiscation was carried out in accordance with Sections 53 and 54 of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2023, which require permits for the construction and operation of vessels in Ghana’s waters.
Mr Hudeen Daud Ahmed, Acting Branch Head of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) in Takoradi, commended the Navy for the operation and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to protecting the maritime sector through collaboration with stakeholders.
Representatives from the Ghana Maritime Authority, Fisheries Commission, National Petroleum Authority and the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service were present to inspect the vessels.
The boats have been towed to the Sekondi Naval Harbour for further investigations and possible prosecution.
Illegal fuel bunkering and related maritime crimes has been flagged as a major concern in Ghana’s coastal waters and across the Gulf of Guinea, prompting intensified enforcement by the Navy and partner agencies.
Investigations indicate that unregistered or modified small boats are often used to transfer fuel from larger vessels at sea to landing beaches, usually under cover of darkness.
Authorities say such practices are linked to smuggling networks that evade taxes and distribute unregulated petroleum products, undermining regulatory controls.
The seizure forms part of ongoing efforts to protect Ghana’s maritime resources, safeguard revenue and promote sustainable use of the marine environment.
Source: GNA
