The Indian High Commission in Accra, in collaboration with Ghanaian maritime authorities, has rescued and repatriated nine Indian seafarers who had been stranded in Ghana aboard the merchant vessel M/V Rahaf Moon.
The mission was carried out jointly by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), with the support of the Indian High Commission. The crew departed Ghana through Accra International Airport for New Delhi after the successful completion of the rescue operation.
Although the High Commission did not disclose how long the seafarers had remained stranded in Ghanaian waters, it described the operation as another demonstration of India’s commitment to protecting its nationals overseas.
“The successful repatriation reflects the Government of India’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the safety, welfare and well-being of Indian nationals in foreign lands and on the high seas,” the High Commission said in a statement.
The operation comes as India and Ghana continue to deepen cooperation in the maritime sector. Earlier last week, India’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Surinder Bhagat, paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Major General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono.
Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in maritime administration, capacity building and training programmes aimed at enhancing skills development and improving the efficiency of the maritime and port sectors.
The latest rescue adds to a series of humanitarian interventions undertaken by the Indian High Commission and Ghanaian maritime authorities over the years.
Between 2017 and 2019, at least 16 Indian seafarers have been stranded in Ghanaian territorial waters weith records of rescued and repatriation through joint efforts involving the Indian High Commission, Ghanaian authorities and maritime partners. In one such operation in 2019, five Indian crew members stranded at the Port of Takoradi were successfully repatriated after sustained diplomatic intervention by the High Commission.
Another notable case involved 11 Indian seafarers aboard the DLB Sea Horizon, which remained detained at the Sekondi Naval Base following a contractual payment dispute between the vessel’s owners and port authorities. The vessel, owned by the American company WAG SPV and registered under the Panamanian flag, remained docked in Ghana for nearly a year while port charges accumulated and access to essential supplies became increasingly difficult. The owners reportedly settled port charges estimated at US$1.5 million before the matter was resolved.
The cooperation has also benefited Ghanaian nationals. In 2016, four Ghanaian seafarers who had been stranded aboard the vessel Magnum V off the coast of Mumbai for several years were rescued and repatriated to Accra following coordinated efforts by the National Union of Seafarers of India, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Indian authorities.
The four crew members, Mohammad Mustapha, Issah Sawudu, Iddriss Mohammad and Abakah Francis, had been abandoned aboard the Sierra Leone-registered vessel after it developed mechanical problems while en route to Colombo. Following legal proceedings before the Bombay High Court, they were brought ashore and flown back to Ghana, bringing an end to years of uncertainty at sea.
The recurring rescue operations underscore the longstanding cooperation between India and Ghana in safeguarding the welfare of seafarers and responding to humanitarian emergencies involving maritime workers in both countries.
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