Ghana to collaborate with Nigeria over Maritime attacks – CDS reveals
This is in response to recent attacks that have surfaced on the Gulf of Guinea which amount to about 43% of global piracy attacks
The Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama has revealed that Ghana is set to collaborate with Nigeria on joint operations that will deal with the recent piracy problems facing the country’s blue economy.
He mentioned this when he hosted a courtesy call from the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Thomas Alonsi, and other high-ranking members of the GMA at his Burma Camp office in Accra.
Mr. Alonsi had suggested that the threat of piracy against Ghana’s maritime economy be dealt with in the manner that the country is waging war against illegal mining.
This suggestion was in response to recent attacks that have surfaced on the Gulf of Guinea which amount to about 43% of global piracy attacks, according to data from the International Maritime Bureau.
Mr. Alonsi mentioned that it is important to deal with the threats to safeguard the investments that have been made towards the growth of the sector. According to him, the promise that has been shown by the sector will be summarily worthless if the menacing threat was not dealt with.
In attendance with the Director-General were one of his deputies, Yaw Akosa Antwi; the Director-Technical, Captain Inusah Abdul Nasir; and Acting Director-Maritime Services, Nana Boakye-Boampong.
“We have to explore an effective and collective response to the piracy question that is threatening the otherwise good reputation of the country as far as maritime security is concerned. I pray you [Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)] to consider a wide-ranging response similar to that deployed in the fight against illegal mining,” Mr. Alonsi said.
He further noted that the CDS must have been aware of steps the Ghana Maritime Authority had taken to improve the security fortunes on Ghana’s seas, adding that joint patrols which had been undertaken by the GMA, the Navy, and Marine Police at Takoradi and Tema had proven effective for meeting some of these objectives, yet, a lot remained to be done on Ghana’s high seas.
“A Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System (VTMIS) operated by the Authority has been enhanced to improve surveillance. The GMA is also in the process of acquiring a vessel that can be stationed at sea for a long time for purposes of maintaining security presence there,” Mr. Alonsi said.
In his response, the CDS reported that the leadership of the navy and GMA were scheduled to meet their Nigerian counterparts for discussions on joint deployment of naval and air assets in the Gulf of Guinea.
The immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Amoama also added that the Ghana Armed Forces are constantly meeting on the matter, as they are also distressed by the hikes in attacks.
The meeting further revealed that the current Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu is set to liaise with Nigeria for lasting solutions to the piracy problems on the Gulf.
“President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has equally been concerned about the attacks, and has taken up the issue with his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari, as the perpetrators are believed to come from that country’s troubled Niger Delta region,” Vice Admiral Amoama added.
On May 19, this year, suspected pirates boarded a fishing vessel and kidnapped at least five crew members approximately 65 NM (120 km/75 miles) south of Tema. One Korean, one Russian, and three Chinese nationals were among the abductees. No ransom demand or casualties were immediately reported.
