Four Ghanaians held hostage by Somali pirates on a ship called the Iceberg have been released.

The four are Jewel Kwesi Ahiable, Edward Asare, Prince Agbo and Francis Koomson. A statement signed by Mubarak A. Abdallah, Director, Information and Public Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration informed the public on Thursday.

It says, “it is brought to the attention of the general public that the persons who were held hostage by Somalia pirates on a ship called the Iceberg have been released”.

The four were captured by Somali pirates in March 2010. Their captors were demanding one million dollars from the shipping line that owns the ship.

The activities of the pirates off the Somali coast, have been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the 21st century.

Since 2005, many international organizations including International Maritime Organization and the World Food Programme have expressed concern over the rise in piracy.