33 Survive Shipwreck Off the Coast of Ningo Prampram

Thirty three seafarers last month were rescued off the coast of Ningo Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, after their wooden vessel sank.

According to information made available to the Chronicle on January 18, this year at about 7pm, the wooden vessel, Ama Kekyeh, left the Tema Fishing Harbour for fishing expedition, but barely six hours later, information got ashore that the vessel had sunk.

The 33-member crew, however, survived as they were rescued by two other fishing vessels.

The exact location is about two and a half hours sail from the Tema Port.

Our information revealed that the vessel after leaving the fishing harbour was in touch with the owner, Sammy Ackah, twice before midnight, but it soon started taking in lots of water as the two pumps on board could not help.

This happened about 32 fathoms (192ft) off the Ningo/Prampram coast.

Captain Kwesi Etru in charge managed to signal to two fishing vessels nearby, which went to rescue the crew.

A sister vessel, Sea Star, was called from ashore to help in retrieving a few fishing gears from the sunk vessel, but, however, it ended fruitless.

Investigations revealed that instead of a Very High Frequency (VHF) communicator, Ama Kekyeh was operating a mobile phone system.

This prevented any Save our Soul (SOS) message from getting to the Ghana Ports and harbours Authority(GPHA) signal station for the necessary assistance.

On hearing of the vessel's plight, the Ports Authorities despatched two tugboats, including a diving pot, to locate the spot and place a bony to warn seafarers.

Reliable information had it that only one of the tugboats made the trip because the other also developed serious leakage on the way.

The exact position could not be traced because by the time the tugboat got around, Ama Kekyeh had gone to the bottom of the vast sea.

The fishing harbour manager, Mr. Anthony Jim-Fugar, who spoke to reporters, said that if Ama Kekyeh were to be equipped with a VHF system, probably it would have been saved, with assistance from the GPHA.

Fugar used the occasion to call on the Navigation and Shipping Division of the sector ministry to ensure that maritime laws are enforced.

According to him, if the two fishing vessels were not to be closer to save the crew, another disaster would have befallen Ghana.

He mentioned MV Duke Offenwi, a Nigerian registered vessel, which had its engine off completely, but had to be drifted ashore at the Atorkor Slave Memorial park, near Anloga.

"The vessel was not having the right anchor hence the danger. In a related development, Fugar said that very soon, MV Bani belonging to Cactus Ent. will be salvaged.

The cost involved is estimated at about $54, 000 and this will be borne by the owners, Chronicle gathered.