Navy will be equipped - Bawumia

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has pledged government's commitment to fully equip the country's navy to aid it deal with emerging maritime threats.

According to Dr Bawumia, this has become necessary to enable the navy protect the numerous offshore resources of Ghana.

Delivering the keynote address at the third Coastal and Maritime Conference in Accra on Tuesday, 28 March, Dr Bawumia said issues having to do with maritime must be taken more seriously.

“Our government is determined to equip the Ghana navy and other stakeholders to be able to protect and preserve those critical national assets. The recently read budget has captured the purchase of two offshore vessels with helicopter landing facilities for the navy. We also have plans to establish a forward operating base at the western border and to train and equip Special Forces for emerging maritime threats,” he stated.

He noted that since combating maritime threats needed collaborative efforts because there are no physical boundaries at sea, “efforts are underway to equip other agencies such as the marine police, the Attorney General’s Department, and the Judiciary to be able to effectively prosecute maritime offences”.

Dr Bawumia further disclosed that government had been “working with our neighbouring countries under the auspices of the Yaoundé accord and code of conduct for maritime security agreed at the summit of heads of state [summit] in Yaoundé in June 2013”.