ECOWAS members sign MOU for Maritime operations
Ghana, together with six other countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate and conduct joint Maritime operations in ECOWAS maritime zone F.
This initiative was arrived upon negotiations and extensive deliberations among the signatory States and is expected to augment the fight against criminal activities at sea.
The move follows several reports that most countries on the African continent are faced with threats like piracy, human trafficking and oil bunkering among other criminal activities.
Speaking at a Capacity building workshop, Ghana’s Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Seth Amoama in his remarks noted pirates and other criminals have become increasingly sophisticated and continue to maintain the intent and capacity to exploit security gaps across the national maritime.
“Signing of the MOU is a step in the right direction for Ghana and all other African continents,” he said.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the ECOWAS Commission, General Francis Behianzin explained the agreement means a lot to our resolve to ensure that our waters are safe in every way possible.
The signing of the MOU will gather resources including ships, aircraft and personnel from all member countries and these resources will help the Navy sweep across the maritime space to make people who have legitimate right to operate at sea, do so safely.
The workshop was primarily targeted at addressing knowledge gaps for personnel, fostering inter-agency collaboration, coordination; gathering, analyzing and sharing data on criminal activities at sea.
In all, thirty-five participants were drawn from security departments of critical institutions including Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority and other security agencies including the Narcotics Control Board, the Ghana Navy, Air Force and the like.
The six countries includes; Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Burkina Faso.