Ghana Navy News

From the sinking of the Titanic to the current piracy phenomenon plaguing the world's oceans, Maritime challenges requires a conserted and collaborative global effort at maintaining safety of live and protection of property at sea.To this the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) collaborated with its global partners from the European Uninon Gulf of Guinea Interregional Network (EU-GoGIN), and the Inter-Regional Coordination Centre (ICC) and organized a four-day crisis response training for security experts and players in the maritime sector.Participants were drawn from the Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Airforce, National Security, National Disaster Management Organisation and Ghana Immigration Service.

The Ghana Armed Forces and the United States Maritime Forces have completed a joint maritime operation, the Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP), as part of the Africa Partnerships Program (APS). The operation brought together representatives from Ghana’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Navy, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coastguard on Spearhead, the U.S. Navy’s first Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). The operation succeeded in detecting three vessels that were violating Ghanaian maritime law and cited the violators for follow-on judicial action. A statement issued by the US Embassy…

U.S. and Ghanaian and maritime forces completed Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) 2015 operations, Feb. 24, 2015. The Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and an embarked combined law enforcement detachment (LEDET), working in tandem with Ghanaian navy’s Western Naval Command Maritime Operations Center (MOC) and patrol vessels, were able to detect three vessels that were violating Ghanaian maritime law and cite them for follow-on judicial action. The combined Ghana-U.S. efforts—another example of the Global Network of Navies—improves interoperability between both nations and helps deter illicit activity that threatens freedom and security in the global commons.

The Ghana Navy has foiled a pirate attack on a Nigerian cargo vessel, MT Mariam and captured all eight bandits. The pirates were armed, but no one, including a nine-member crew aboard MT Mariam, was injured when the Ghana Navy crew aboard GNS BLIKA effected the arrest. Lt Col. Eric Aggrey Quashie, Director of Public Relations (DPR) of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), would not say when the MT Mariam was seized by pirates. The small tanker's owners, using an onboard tracking device, informed Ghanaian authorities of its position in Ghanaian waters on Saturday. "Our forces on patrol on the high seas were therefore alerted and they quickly moved in to arrest the pirates," Quarshie added.

Maritime professionals from more than 20 maritime nations met in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to finalize plans for Exercise Obangame Express 2015, Jan. 12, 2015. During the four-day meeting with representatives from 13 African nations, eight European nations, the U.S. and Brazil, planners finalized exercise scenarios, defined requirements for personnel and vessels, and gained consensus on objectives of the exercise, which will be conducted in the Gulf of Guinea during March 2015. Capt. John F. Commodore Mark Yawson, Flag Officer Fleet, Ghana Navy made the following observation: "Obangame is quite important for our countries because maintaining maritime security and safety is essential to the social and economic development of the region.

The Navy of Ghana has invited industry experts and military and law enforcement leaders to Accra for the Coastal and Maritime Surveillance Africa 2014 conference. The delegates are examining the threats, challenges and opportunities that are present in the Gulf of Guinea and Africa’s Atlantic coast. In welcoming remarks, Vice President of Ghana Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur said there is enormous opportunity in developing the resources of the Gulf of Guinea, but also a huge cost presented by insecurity, which constrains investment. The potential is being undermined by domestic, regional and international threats. “We’re looking for long term partnerships and standardization across our region.

Ghana's Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral GW Biekro, is convening a conference of senior international Admirals and naval experts to find solutions to further providing security in the Gulf of Guinea. Attending, the Coastal and Maritime Surveillance Africa (CAMSA) summit March 17-20 in Accra, will include Ghana's Vice President, Minister of Defense and Chiefs of all military services. Admirals from the EU, South Africa and other ECOWAS countries will also descend on Accra to discuss the threat of increased insecurity in Africa's fastest growing region.