The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has noted that the Gulf of Guinea which spans about 13 countries in West and Central Africa is vital for Ghana and West Africa with an estimated regional GDP of $550 billion annually.
The President has therefore tasked Ghana’s maritime industry players to leverage the emerging blue economy to maximize the economic benefits therein to enhance the livelihoods of Ghanaians.
According to him, terrorists use complex technologies procedures to execute their plans and to be able to be a step ahead of them, he urged the maritime security chiefs to also implement more innovative and sophisticated technologies that will hinder these terrorists from intruding.
“The critical challenge is that perpetrators of maritime crimes use sophisticated forms of technology which requires a more innovative technology that gives a comparative advantage,” the President said.
Speaking at the 2023 International Maritime Defence and Exhibition Conference and the launch of Ghana’s National Integrated Maritime Strategy (NIMS) in Accra, President Akufo-Addo said stakeholders must take advantage of technology to be ahead of criminals in that space.
He noted that the sea’s contribution to communication technology as it holds underwater inter connectivity communication fiber cables is equally important.
“You must find innovative solutions to strengthen further the innovative gains made by encouraging conducive environments for businesses to thrive. Technology has become a vital tool in our quest to a sustained and peaceful maritime domain,” he said.
The President emphasized on the need for multifaceted technological approach to deny the unauthorized under water surface and above water resources by criminals and economic saboteurs.
The National Integrated Maritime Strategy (NIMS) has been developed by a multi-agency Ghanaian team at a crucial moment when there is a burgeoning awareness of the contribution of oceans to sustainable development.
This Strategy is intended to chart viable courses of action towards addressing these issues to ensure that Ghana’s maritime domain is globally considered safe and secure, with strong blue economy sectors that not only generate substantial national income, but also ultimately improve the living standards of people.
The NIMS has been developed with six strategic objectives in mind for the country:
They are Strengthen the framework for maritime governance, Ensure the safety and security of Ghana’s maritime domain, Develop a thriving blue economy, Protect our marine and coastal environment, Promote capacity-building, research, awareness and knowledge-sharing in the maritime domain, and Develop dynamic and diversified regional and international cooperation.
It was jointly developed by the Ministries of Transport, National Security, Defence, Energy, Fisheries, Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Justice along with international and private sector partners.
It is expected that the successful operationalisation of the NIMS and its detailed implementation plan would strengthen collaboration between local stakeholders and international partners to achieve the aim of a safe and secure maritime domain with a thriving blue economy to enhance the livelihoods of Ghanaians.
President Akufo-Addo said the government has commenced equipping the NAVY with Drones, coastal radars, real-time surveillance and tracking protocols in order to improve maritime domain awareness.
“The government will continue to support the maritime authority and the entire maritime industry with policies, equipment, training and resources as part of Maritime security capacity building,” he said.
The President noted that the ongoing international discussion on the exploitation of the blue ocean economy for sustainable development of countries, particularly, littoral states, further emphasized the need for countries to safeguard their territorial waters.
He noted that, the government recognized the need for a well-resourced and technologically advanced navy and had invested heavily in that area, including committing to acquiring some off-shore patrol vessels, fast patrol boats, to augment equipment to improve its physical presence.
He said the increased threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea emphasizes the need for littoral West African states to prioritize the security of their maritime domains with the Gulf of Guinea having emerged as the hotspot for piracy.
The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, said the maritime industry must not be seen as a body of sea but a body of life changing enterprise that holds the potential to unlock the enormous economic potentials for the people.
The development of the NIMS, he said had gone through a series of consultations with key players and actors to ensure a coordinated approach to the promotion and enhancement of maritime safety.
National Security Minister, Albert Kan- Dapaah, admitted that though the quest to fully secure Ghanaian waters would not be without challenges, it was important for active collaboration and participation of all stakeholders to ensure a successful implementation of the NIMS.
Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, the Chief of Army Staff, said Ghana in the last two years had not recorded any significant maritime attack or kidnapping in its waters but petty thefts on ships at anchorages; a reason the strategy and the conference are crucial for a safe maritime industry for Ghana and the Gulf of Guinea.
He noted that, this year’s conference has more than 300 participants from 22 countries including 10 Chiefs of Navies and Heads if Coast Guards, a number of international and local exhibitors and sponsors as well as 30 speakers.
“Arguably, this Conference has become the largest gathering of Africa’s maritime industry,” he said.
According to him, there has been a steady decline in piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea in recent times due to the collaborative efforts of regional and international partners as well as the use of technology in maritime operations.
“Our Region’s blue economy has suffered significantly from disruptions in international trade, fishing, and other challenges due to the insecurity in our maritime domain,” he stated.
Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, noted that the outcomes that is expected from this Conference and Exhibition in line with the them is a common understanding of the problem and to develop a regional and international framework for dealing particularly with the challenge of piracy and other transnational maritime crimes.