The Fourth International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEC) 2025 officially ended in Accra with renewed commitments from African and international maritime stakeholders to deepen security collaboration, embrace technological innovation, and drive sustainable ocean governance.
Addressing the closing ceremony on behalf of the Minister for Defence, Ghana’s Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong expressed heartfelt appreciation to participating nations, industry leaders, and maritime experts for their dedication to advancing Africa’s collective maritime interests.
“With a deep sense of gratitude, I deliver these closing remarks on behalf of the Minister for Defence at the conclusion of this significant gathering,” he said. “Over the past two days, we have witnessed a rich convergence of ideas, strategies, technologies, and firm commitments from across Africa and beyond—geared towards advancing our collective maritime security interests.”
This year’s conference, held under the theme “Securing Africa’s Maritime Future: Collaboration, Technology, and Sustainability in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape,” brought together over 200 delegates from 25 countries, including 16 Chiefs of Navies and Coast Guards, senior defense officials, diplomats, and more than 40 defense industry partners.
The Chief of Defence Staff acknowledged the strategic importance of the discussions, which covered the evolving threats to Africa’s vast maritime domain—piracy, illegal fishing, marine pollution, and the shifting contours of global geopolitics.
He referenced recent incidents such as the Orange Frost kidnapping near São Tomé and the Sea Panther attack southeast of Nigeria, as evidence that piracy and armed robbery remain persistent threats.
“More worryingly, the recent kidnapping of a Ghanaian national serves as a sobering reminder that no nation is immune. Maritime security is not just a national concern—it is a regional and global responsibility,” he added.
He highlighted the progress made through operational coordination, the advancement of the Yaoundé Architecture, the African Union’s Combined Maritime Task Force, and strengthened regional information-sharing systems.
The forum, he noted, has served as a strategic bridge between policymakers, naval leaders, private industry, and international partners, showcasing emerging digital tools and uncrewed systems for domain awareness and threat response.
Reflecting on the recent African Maritime Summit in Mauritius, the Chief of Defence Staff emphasized Africa’s determination to tackle maritime insecurity through stronger coordination, local capacity building, and inclusive governance.
He expressed Ghana’s appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his continued support to the maritime sector and acknowledged the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Ghana Navy in organizing the event.
He also extended gratitude to delegations from countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, Cameroon, Morocco, Egypt, China, Turkey, Italy, and the United States for their invaluable contributions.
Chief Staff Officer at the Naval Headquarters, Commodore Ben Baba Abdul, also delivered remarks that summarized the key outcomes, suggestions, and recommendations drawn from the conference’s panel discussions.
He emphasized the importance of established frameworks such as the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, the Lomé Charter, and the AU Integrated Maritime Strategy in promoting peace, security, and prosperity across the continent’s maritime space.
Commodore Abdul pointed out that Africa’s waters continue to face serious threats from piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking, and irregular migration, which pose direct challenges to the development of the continent’s blue economy.
He commended Senegal’s national maritime strategy as a practical example of how African nations can address economic vulnerabilities and security threats simultaneously.
He stressed that “security and the blue economy must go hand-in-hand through a multi-sectoral strategy that links maritime safety to economic development,” adding that key maritime threats such as IUU fishing, piracy, and climate change require integrated naval responses and efficient resource utilization.
Nigeria’s approach was presented as a case study of progress, particularly its focus on surveillance technology, fleet modernization, and the “Trinity of Action” strategy, which prioritizes interagency coordination and regional partnerships.
Nigeria also called for harmonized legal enforcement, stronger political commitment, and better intelligence-sharing across Gulf of Guinea nations.
Deliberations also focused on the central role of commercial maritime actors in boosting regional trade and integration.
The conference advocated deeper collaboration among port authorities, regulators, academia, and private operators. Key recommendations included promoting port digitalization, integrated maritime data systems, and secured trade corridors to increase the resilience of maritime commerce.
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) featured prominently in the discussions. The conference highlighted AI’s potential to transform threat detection, enhance real-time analytics, and improve maritime situational awareness. Participants called for interoperable intelligence systems, ethical AI deployment, and public-private partnerships to drive AI-based maritime governance.
Fleet readiness, self-reliant maintenance capabilities, and investment in local shipyards were highlighted as strategic imperatives. Delegates urged African nations to reduce reliance on costly overseas maintenance by developing local technical capacity and establishing PPPs. Suggestions included exploring remote diagnostic support for next-generation naval assets to improve operational continuity.
The growing importance of modular, multi-mission vessels and energy-efficient maritime platforms was emphasized. A comprehensive approach combining domain awareness, coordinated naval operations, and international collaboration was identified as necessary to address the complex, interconnected nature of maritime threats.
Participants also flagged concerns over the lack of legal clarity surrounding private maritime security actors, calling for the development of clearer regulatory frameworks. Civil-military partnerships and regional cooperation were encouraged to ensure accountability and innovation.
The Italian Navy was commended for contributing to practical and cost-effective maritime security models. Discussions warned that failure to invest in maritime security threatens not just trade and the blue economy but also the sovereignty of coastal nations.
On ocean governance, delegates emphasized initiatives such as the Deep Blue Project, intensified maritime patrols, and the integration of surveillance technologies. Transparency, local stakeholder engagement, and good governance were identified as critical to addressing the root causes of insecurity in coastal communities.
Key Recommendations from the Conference Included:
Establishing an Atlantic Maritime Fusion Centre to enhance cross-regional surveillance and coordinated threat response.
Prioritizing the procurement of modular, multi-mission, and unmanned naval platforms that are both cost-effective and energy efficient.
Investing in affordable missile defense systems and cyber-resilient technologies tailored to Africa’s evolving threat environment.
Adopting a unified strategy that integrates real-time situational awareness, security operations, and international cooperation.
Strengthening bilateral and multilateral maritime security partnerships among coastal states.
Developing a Regional AI Maritime Hub within the proposed Fusion Centre to harmonize threat detection, create shared databases, and support predictive intelligence through standardized AI training and PPPs.
These recommendations, built on two days of extensive deliberations and expert input, are expected to inform future actions aimed at securing Africa’s maritime future and unlocking the full potential of its blue economy.
