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The government has signed a US $ 200 million contract for the construction of an advanced exploitation base (FOB) in Edzinlibo, in the western region, to protect the country's oil and gas infrastructure.
This contract would allow the Ghanaian Navy to receive badociated offshore patrol vessels for effective maritime patrols. Another contract has been signed with Gulf Frontiers for the purchase of six additional patrol boats to strengthen the Ghanaian navy fleet.
This decision follows Ghana's historic victory over neighboring Côte d'Ivoire in 2017 in the Special Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Germany, during a three-year dispute over the maritime boundary. .
The Chamber declared Saturday, September 23, 2017 that Ghana had not violated any maritime boundary between Côte d'Ivoire and that the two countries had therefore signed an agreement for the implementation of the Tribunal's decision.
The Advanced Operations Base is a secure military position at the advanced operational level commonly used for an extended period of time. It improves the reaction time of the army during operations.
Dominic Nitiwul, Minister of Defense, made the statement when he addressed delegates at the opening of the first international maritime defense conference and exhibition in Accra on Wednesday.
More than 50 navy staffs in Africa and around the world, coast guards, department heads, researchers, regulators and marine sector stakeholders attended the conference, which also marks the 60th anniversary of the Ghanaian navy.
They will discuss maritime challenges, exchange ideas, exchange information and explore technological solutions to maintain maritime safety and protect the maritime domain for the sustainable exploitation of the blue economy for national development. .
Delegates will share various maritime strategies to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in the Gulf of Guinea and around the world.
Its theme is "Strengthening Regional Collaboration to Enhance Maritime Security and Regional Development in the Gulf of Guinea", while the 60th Anniversary of the Ghana Navy is celebrated on the theme: "Celebrating 60 Years of Excellence of the Navy, Securing Maritime Security National Development Area. "
There were more than 80 defense solution providers worldwide presenting different technological solutions to threats to maritime safety.
Mr. Nitiwul reiterated the need for all stakeholders in the maritime sector to encourage collaboration to deal decisively with threats to maritime safety and security. He added that threats to the security of the maritime sector transcended borders and had a propensity to affect international trade and coastal countries, since maritime trade constituted about 80% of world trade.
Mr Nitiwul said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFA) would not succeed if the maritime domain was not secure, adding that of the 55 African Union countries, 39 are Coastal states.
The defense minister pointed out that the maritime sector is the backbone of the Ghanaian economy, as ports were the gateway for more than 80 percent of international trade and were essential for mobilizing the country's revenues. .
Mr Nitiwul called for strengthening the Integrated Maritime Strategy for Africa and inter-agency cooperation, as well as joint and combined cooperation between maritime safety agencies and stakeholders.
He felt that the technological solution was essential for dealing with maritime threats, which would facilitate information sharing and intelligence, and therefore expressed his enthusiasm for the presence of technology solution providers in the field. conference.
Nitiwul said offshore oil and gas resources and related industries make a huge contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and would see a significant increase following the discovery of new oil and gas wells.
Therefore, the protection of Ghana's maritime domain is crucial for the implementation of the "Ghana Beyond Aid" program, as promoted by the government, he added.
Mr. Nitiwul called for faster action to decisively combat illegal and unregulated fishing, maritime pollution, theft, illicit bunkering and the litany of maritime crimes, in order to ensure the sustainable use of maritime badets of the country.
The Minister congratulated the Ghanaian navy for fulfilling its mandate to protect the country's territorial waters over the past 60 years, noting that efforts were under way to raise maritime awareness through imagery. satellite and other maritime solutions while the air force of Ghana completed the navy. with planes to protect the country's maritime domain.
He said the collaboration between the Ghana navy and other security agencies continued to yield positive results, and referred to the recent crackdown on the activities of the fuel smuggling unions as a result of this collaboration.
Mr Nitiwul urged the Ghanaian navy not to rest on its oars but to work in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the Ghana Maritime Police, the Ghana Maritime Authority, the United States, and the United States. authority of Ghana's ports and ports, the Ghana Petroleum Commission and the National Petroleum Corporation. stakeholders and international partners, to protect the country's maritime domain and make the Gulf of Guinea safer.
Source: GNA
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