Ghana has recorded one case of piracy and armed robbery in its maritime space this year, a significant decrease compared to the total incidents logged from 2020 to 2023, which were 14, 3, 8, and 9, respectively.
This reduction brings the total number of incidents over the past five years to 35, according to statistics from the Ghana Navy.
The report indicates that a total of 25 piracy and armed robbery cases have been reported in 16 countries across the Gulf of Guinea this year.
This figure contrasts sharply with previous years, which saw totals of 132, 64, 24, and 34 incidents in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively.
Commander Philip Odoi-Narh, Director of Naval Intelligence at the Ghana Navy, attributed this decline to various interventions and strategies implemented at the state, regional, and international levels.
He spoke during a visit from a delegation of the French Navy, led by Captain Jocelyn Deuzieu of the Dixmude ship, at the Naval Headquarters in Accra.
Key strategies mentioned by Commander Odoi-Narh include maritime security awareness programs, national and regional maritime security strategies, inter-agency cooperation, and joint naval exercises.
Despite the overall decrease in piracy and armed robbery incidents, he cautioned that the threat from pirate action groups remains significant.
He also highlighted broader issues affecting maritime security, such as political activism, drug smuggling, maritime terrorism, oil-related crimes, illegal migration, and fuel smuggling.
To address these challenges, Commander Odoi-Narh called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders in the maritime sector.
Captain Deuzieu praised the Ghana Navy for its role in developing regional and international initiatives aimed at combatting piracy and maritime threats.
He also assured the Ghana Navy of continued support from the French Navy in these efforts.
Commodore James Adongo Agambire, Flag Officer Commanding the Riverine Command, emphasized that the presence of the Dixmude and the Siren Academy signifies the enduring partnership between the Ghanaian and French navies, reaffirming their shared commitment to maritime cooperation and setting the stage for enhanced collaboration in the future.
