The proactive and intensified efforts of the Ghana Navy have led to a significant reduction in maritime piracy and successfully eased tensions along the Ghana-Togo maritime boundary, Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah has announced.
Speaking at today’s Government Accountability Series in Accra, the Minister lauded the Navy’s pivotal role in bolstering national security and fostering regional stability.
Dr. Omane Boamah highlighted the dramatic decline in maritime crimes, particularly piracy, within Ghana’s territorial waters and the broader Gulf of Guinea.
[embedded content]“The Ghana Navy has significantly reduced maritime crimes, particularly piracy through robust patrols, targeted escort duties, and the deployment of armed guards aboard vessels,” he stated.
These concerted efforts have been crucial in ensuring the safety of vital sea lanes.
The Gulf of Guinea, once a global hotspot for piracy, has seen a notable decrease in incidents in recent years, a trend attributed in part to enhanced regional collaboration and increased naval patrols by littoral states like Ghana.
This improved security directly “kept our sea lines of communication secure, enhancing maritime economic activities.”
Beyond piracy, the Navy’s riverine patrols have also yielded substantial benefits, contributing “to a reduction in accidents on various river bodies, minimizing the loss of lives and property.”
This has directly supported the livelihoods of numerous traders, “a profession heavily dominated by women and making a significant contribution to the growth of our economy,” by enabling them to engage in daily commercial activities with greater safety.
The Minister also shed light on the Navy’s crucial role in resolving the lingering maritime boundary dispute between Ghana and Togo.
He proudly declared that Ghana’s position “was given a boost by conducting patrols along the Ghana Togo maritime border.”
The strategic “deployment of GNS AIMA within the disputed area succeeded in establishing harmony at the eastern border.”
This operational success, coupled with “leadership engagement between the two navies as well as operational level harmonization,” has effectively “prevented the escalation of the Ghana Togo border dispute,” ensuring peaceful coexistence and shared maritime resources.
The Ghana Boundary Commission has been actively involved in negotiations, with progress reported on agreeing to the land boundary terminus and nautical charts in recent years.
Furthermore, the Ghana Navy has been instrumental in safeguarding critical national infrastructure. It has “enhanced its protection for the West Africa gas pipeline, guarding against theft and sabotage to ensure the supply of power within Ghana.”
The West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) is a vital energy conduit for Ghana, Togo, and Benin, making its security paramount for regional energy stability.
The Navy’s robust anchorage and harbor patrols are also actively “facilitating the 24-hour operations of the Ghana ports and harbor authority,” crucial for Ghana’s trade and economic competitiveness.
The Minister added that specialized training, particularly by the Special Boat Squadron, involving “boat exercises around the anchorage and combat medical care and evacuation from ships in the port,” has further enhanced the Navy’s operational readiness.
Additionally, the Navy’s participation in “Operation Carrot” has seen intensified patrols to enforce compliance with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development’s directives on the closed fishing season, aiming to ensure sustainable fishing practices in Ghana’s economically vital fisheries sector.
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