The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Ghana Navy, in collaboration with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has destroyed ten locally manufactured canoes, popularly known as “dendeys,” used in illegal bunkering activities along Ghana’s coastline.
The dismantling exercise took place at the Tema Fishing Harbour on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, as part of ongoing intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting unregulated fuel smuggling networks operating within the country’s territorial waters.
The operation was jointly carried out by the ENC, the Naval Training Command and the Special Boat Squadron (SBS), targeting infrastructure believed to facilitate illicit petroleum trade along the coast.
Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Mr. Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, described the exercise as a firm demonstration of the government’s resolve to combat illegal bunkering and fuel smuggling.
He commended the Ghana Navy for its commitment to tackling maritime illegalities, warning that fuel smuggling results in significant revenue losses to the state through tax evasion, while also posing serious national security risks.
According to him, smuggled petroleum products bypass the country’s fuel-marking scheme and quality assurance checks conducted by the NPA and the Ghana Standards Authority, thereby exposing consumers to potentially substandard fuel products and creating unfair competition for compliant Oil Marketing Companies.
Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Asiedu-Larbi, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s territorial waters and safeguarding the country’s maritime economy.
He also expressed appreciation to the NPA for the continued institutional support, intelligence sharing and collaboration, stressing that coordinated multi-agency efforts remain crucial in addressing maritime economic crimes.
Deputy Command Operations Officer of the ENC, Lieutenant Commander Dorothy Osei Anaso, said the seizure and destruction of the canoes followed laid-down operational procedures.
She disclosed that petroleum products retrieved during the operations had been handed over to the NPA for further investigations and regulatory action.
Lieutenant Commander Anaso further noted that the decommissioning exercise began in mid-May, with five canoes already dismantled prior to Tuesday’s operation.
CREDIT: Mavis Fantevi
