Safeguarding Africa’s maritime domain will take greater cooperation

Ghana calls for collaboration

GHANA: “No nation can afford to do it alone,” the President of Ghana told delegates at a naval symposium this week as he called for greater levels of cooperation and collaboration amongst global maritime stakeholders.

Speaking at the opening of the second African Maritime Forces Summit and third Naval Infantry Leadership Symposium Africa in Accra on Tuesday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said that the event provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and enhance collective capabilities through constructive dialogue, exchange of best practices, and exploring innovative solutions to the maritime security challenges facing the continent.

“Ghana, being cognizant of her responsibilities as a coastal state, is playing her part in collaborating with the international maritime community towards enhancing maritime security in the region and on the entire African continent,” he said.

Recognising the Gulf of Guinea region as a key route for international trade as well as the growing investment in the oil and gas sectors, he said that the region would have to cope with both traditional and emerging maritime security threats going forward.

He noted, however, that piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea had been “appreciably suppressed” through the coordinated efforts of the Nigerian and Ghanaian navies.

“By working together, sharing intelligence, and coordinating our efforts, we can address effectively maritime security threats, and safeguard our maritime domain,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo confirmed Ghana’s intention to retool the Navy through the acquisition of two new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) as well as the construction of a new naval base in the Western Region which is nearing completion.

“These investments would help safeguard the security of our maritime space, and lead to an accelerated growth of our blue economy. Other African countries have shown similar commitments, and collaboration with our key partners have ensured the significant improvement in the security of Africa’s maritime domain,” he concluded.