Regional News of Thursday, 16 July 2009

Source: GNA

Drowning fishermen rescued at Denu

Denu, July 16, GNA - A group of fishermen nearly lost their lives in an attempt to save a boat from being carried out to sea by a storm and swift currents. They were swept by strong currents on the stormy sea together with the boat until they were rescued by another group of fishermen at Atorkukope near Denu.

Mr Francis Bedzo, Co Partner of KOAMAT-PAT-Bedzo Fishing Company, owners of the boat, told the Ghana News Agency that he rushed to the Denu beach at about 0400 hours on July 12 after he was told that swift currents were carrying the boat, that was at anchor, off to sea. He said he with 26 employees of the company got into the sea in an attempt to retrieve the boat that had then capsized with its net floating.

Mr Bedzo said just as they were pushing the boat towards the shore a swift current swept them eastwards towards Togo but they held firmly onto the boat until they were rescued. Mr Bedzo said the no member of the group was injured but the boat and the net were extensively damaged. He said it would cost the company 4,000 Ghana cedis to mend the boat and the nets and that the livelihood of the 26 employees of the company and their families were going to be adversely affected for sometime.