Countries within the Gulf of Guinea region have been urged to embrace the Gulf of Guinea Commission, to combat the maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea, to safeguard the development of citizens within the region.
The clarion call was made by the Chairman of the Gulf of Guinea Commission, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana, at the 3rd Extra-ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission which was held in Accra on Tuesday.
The summit saw in attendance Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Foreign Ministers and other high-ranking representatives from other member states including Angola, Cameroun, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.
President Akufo-Addo entreated all 9 member states to attach importance to the closed-door discussions which will see to the containment and eradication of maritime-related crime within the Gulf of Guinea region to build a safe and secure region for sustainable development.
The president beseeched member states to endeavour to show more political commitment at the highest level of government and fulfill their obligations as members of the commission, by paying their statutory financial contributions and attending meetings.
President Akufo-Addo also proposed the expansion of the commission to include all the 19 nations along the coast of the Gulf Of Guinea, from Cape Verde to Angola, to improve effective collaboration between navies and other relevant security agencies of nations of the Gulf of Guinea.
The president said for the body to have an effective and well-organized defense of the region, countries must be encouraged to join the commission to maintain peace and security in the Gulf of Guinea region for sustainable development.
The summit also saw the swearing-in of 4 new executive officers of the commission to run the affairs of the entity for the next three years.
The new executives include representatives from Angola, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Ghana.
The new Secretary General of the Gulf of Guinea Commission in his maiden address promised to do more for the commission to achieve its objectives.
Ghana in 2017 became the 9th member to join the Gulf of Guinea Commission, which was founded on May 3, 2001.
By: Isaac Clottey
