Ghana's navy hosts first international conference and exhibition on maritime defense

General News of Thursday, July 25, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-07-25

The Ghanaian Navy is organizing the first international maritime defense exhibition and conference in Accra to discuss maritime challenges, exchange innovative ideas and explore technological solutions to maintain maritime safety and safeguard the maritime domain.

The two-day conference brought together more than 50 naval staffs from Africa and around the world, coast guards, department heads, researchers, regulators, and marine stakeholders to discuss strategies to ensure sustainable exploitation of the sea. the blue economy for national development purposes.

They will also share various maritime strategies to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in the Gulf of Guinea and around the world.

It is under the theme: "Strengthening regional collaboration to enhance maritime security and regional development in the Gulf of Guinea".

The conference was also used to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Ghanaian Navy, on the theme: "Celebrating 60 Years of Naval Excellence, Securing the Maritime Domain for National Development".

The event has attracted more than 80 defense solution providers around the world, presenting various maritime technology solutions, to address threats to maritime safety.

Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Navy Chief of Staff, said in his welcome address that maritime crimes such as illegal bunkering, drug trafficking, armed robbery, Illegal fishing and marine pollution abound in the global maritime domain.

These crimes, he said, not only threaten national and regional peace, but also pose a serious threat to the economies of coastal and non-coastal countries.

To address these maritime challenges, he stressed the need for extensive regional collaboration between maritime security services and other stakeholders, in order to combat maritime crime, as well as an increased dialogue on maritime issues. cross-border cooperation, information sharing and goodwill visits.

Rear Admiral Amoamo said the signing of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct was another important effort by the Gulf of Guinea countries to fight maritime crimes.

He added that although the process of implementing the code of conduct had been slow and fraught with difficulties, it was progressively moving forward.

In addition to subregional efforts to reduce maritime crime, he said, international initiatives such as joint exercises with other foreign warships had been launched, aimed at improving interoperability. naval forces.

These joint exercises, he said, have allowed police and coastguard leaders to engage in dialogue and ideas on threats to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and have achieved some success. in the fight against maritime safety.

He called for continued cooperation and collaboration among global maritime stakeholders for sustainable exploitation of the blue economy, as no country can solve maritime problems.