Seven stowaways who concealed themselves in the rudder trunk of a Belgian oil tanker off the coast of Tema are thought to be Ivorian citizens but reside in a Ghanaian community in Ivory Coast.
According to preliminary investigations, the people may have illegally boarded the tanker while it was anchored in Ivorian waters; they are thought to be members of a Ghanaian community residing in Côte d’Ivoire.
They were rescued by the Ghana Navy from the Belgian-registered crude oil tanker MT Cap Felix after the Maritime Operations Center received a distress call.
On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Abidjan sent an emergency notice to Ghanaian officials, which prompted the rescue mission.
Approximately 200 nautical miles south of Tema Harbour, the tanker reported that it had suspected stowaways concealed in its rudder trunk and asked for immediate assistance.
The Eastern Naval Command claims that MT Cap Felix, a crude oil tanker flying the Belgian flag, has an IMO registration of 9380738 and a gross tonnage of roughly 82,000 tonnes. Côte d’Ivoire’s Abidjan served as its final destination.
Commodore Solomon Aseidu-Larbi, the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, told the media on Saturday, May 16, 2026, that the Ghana Navy quickly responded to the distress call by sending the Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) Achimota, commanded by Commander Ishmeal Kofi Quansah, to intercept the tanker at sea.
He clarified that the seven suspected male stowaways were safely retrieved from the rudder trunk of the tanker by naval personnel after GNS Achimota left Tema Harbour at around 7 p.m. on the same day.
According to preliminary investigations, the people were thought to be members of a Ghanaian group residing in Côte d’Ivoire, according to Commodore Aseidu-Larbi.
According to accounts, they might have unlawfully boarded the tanker when it was anchored in Ivorian waters.
Since then, the rescued individuals have been turned over to the appropriate state agencies, such as the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and the Marine Police, for additional enquiries and any required legal action.
Graphic Online was informed by a Ghana Immigration Service officer that the suspects will be profiled as part of the investigation before being turned over to the Ghana Police Service for additional examination and potential prosecution.
Source: newsthemegh.com