Tragedy struck in Tema Newtown as two fishermen lost their lives in a harrowing clash with naval officers during the closed fishing season.
The incident occurred on Thursday dawn, and it has left the community in shock and mourning.
According to reports from Adom News' correspondent Isabella Gidiglo, the deceased fishermen were among a group of twelve men who embarked on a fishing trip as part of an annual ritual sanctioned by the traditional authorities.
The local community had permitted them to fish despite the closed season for this special ceremony.
However, while the fishermen were on their fishing expedition, naval officers on patrol encountered their canoe.
The naval officers allegedly accused the fishermen of intruding into restricted waters and without any warning or provocation, forcefully collided their vessel with the fishermen's canoe.
The impact of the collision caused the canoe to capsize, throwing all occupants into the unforgiving sea.
Although ten of the fishermen managed to swim ashore and save themselves, the other two, unfortunately, succumbed to the powerful waves.
A representative from the Traditional Council expressed profound disappointment over the tragic incident.
He revealed that the Fisheries Ministry was aware of the local tradition and the practice of some men going fishing during the closed season for ceremonial purposes.
Despite this awareness, the naval officers' actions were reckless and devastating.
The surviving fishermen are deeply angered by the loss of their colleagues and believe that the naval officers could have handled the situation more professionally.
Instead of immediately resorting to violence, they feel the officers should have taken them ashore for questioning to understand the purpose of their presence at sea.
The incident has sparked outrage in the fishing community, with demands for an investigation into the actions of the navy officers and appropriate measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Authorities are being urged to promote better communication between law enforcement agencies and local communities to avoid misunderstandings that can lead to such unfortunate incidents.
The families of the deceased are now left to grieve, and the entire community stands in solidarity with them during this difficult time.
The loss of these two fishermen serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges faced by those who rely on fishing as their livelihood.