The Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) has denied reports claiming that two fishermen who died in a clash with Marine Police were being chased by the police.
This comes after two fishermen in Tema Newtown in the Greater Accra region were confirmed dead Thursday dawn after a reported clash with GHPA tugboat on the Tema sea waters.
The fishermen were reported to have gone fishing to catch a bait for ritual purposes in celebration of the Tema festival despite an existing moratorium on fishing activities for artisanal fishermen, which is expected to elapse on Monday the 31st of July.
According to Abena Serwah Ofosu, Public Relations Officer of the GPHA, the police only seized the fishing net of those who were arrested.
She explained that “they allege that they were being chased, why were they being chased because even those that were being caught inside at the port, they were not arrested, we only seized their nets from them so what will be the motive to chase them?”
The bodies have since been deposited at the GPHA Maritime Hospital Morgue in Tema while investigations into the matter proceed.
By Vincent Kubi