President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned six new vessels into the Ghana Navy Fleet as part of the government’s commitment to resource the Navy to effectively secure the country’s maritime domain.
The vessels are two Boundary Class ships, donated by the United States (US) government and christened the Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) Half Assini and GNS Aflao; two Defender Class boats; an Oil Spill Response Vessel, christened Esther Afua Ocloo, for the Ghana Maritime Authority; and a locally manufactured Landing Craft.
Speaking at a ceremony to commission the vessels at the Sekondi Naval Base in the Western Region, President Akufo-Addo said the move was a manifestation of his government’s commitment to retool and re-equip the Ghana Armed Forces to enable them to perform their duties of protecting the territorial integrity of the country, stressing that the addition of the new vessels symbolized the government’s resolve to safeguard Ghana’s maritime sovereignty.
The President said he was committed to resourcing the Navy and other relevant agencies in the maritime sector to help guarantee the sustainable exploitation and benefits the ocean offered.
The President urged the Navy officers to continue to safeguard the country’s maritime boundaries from any external aggressions, adding, that there is a need to maintain a significant Naval presence to prevent criminals from exploiting any contested area.
President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to the US government for donating the GNS Half Assini and the GNS Aflao to the Ghana Navy as part of their support to augment the government’s commitment to ensuring maritime security in Ghana’s territorial waters.
Mr Dominic Nitiwul, Minister for Defence, said the importance of a well-equipped Armed Forces could not be overemphasized, “that is why the President Akufo-Addo-led government has made the retooling of the Ghana Armed Forces, including the Navy a priority.”
Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister for Transport, said the commissioning of the Oil Spill Response Vessel marked a significant milestone in the country’s maritime sector as it provided a major boost to efforts towards creating a vibrant, safe, and secured maritime ecosystem for economic growth.
Madam Virginia Palmer, the US Ambassador to Ghana, indicated that the donation of the boats was the latest in the United States’s long-standing support for the Ghana Navy, including training, technical assistance, and naval infrastructure projects.
