Ghana military says ready to fight maritime crime

Commodore Godson Zowonoo, Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, on Wednesday warned that the Ghana Armed Forces would seize every opportunity to fight maritime crime.

This is because threats to maritime security endanger economic development and long-term stability of the country.

Commodore Zowonoo, who is also the Garrison Commander, gave the warning at the closing ceremony of a two-week multi-national training programme for military personnel from Ghana, United States, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Spain.

The training was the Ghana Phase of the African Winds 2013, a Dutch-led international deployment supporting the African Partnership Station (APS) initiative of the United States.

Commodore Zowonoo said maritime piracy, armed robbery at sea, illicit trade in narcotics, illegal bunkering and illegal ship to ship transfer of petroleum products as well as unreported marine pollution has increased lately in the Gulf of Guinea where Ghana is located.

He said this is of grave concern to the maritime nations of the Gulf of Guinea and the governments of these countries are making frantic efforts to address the menace.

Commodore Zowonoo said Ghana has demonstrated keen commitment in dealing with maritime crime.

He said the government has applied to join the Gulf of Guinea Commission to ensure very effective information sharing and resource mobilisation to maintain security along the Gulf.

Colonel Freek Swat, Commander of APS and Colonel Huub Hulsker, Commander of Dutch Navy Ship, HNLMS Rotterdam, presented certificates to the Ghanaian troops who took part in the training.

Source: GNA