Kofi Ampeah Woode
A Court of Appeal Judge of Ghana’s Judiciary Service – Justice Bright Mensah, chaired a moot court session on maritime crimes at the Owusu-Ansah Hall, at the GN Headquarters, to simulate a trial, discussing legal frameworks, prosecution strategies, and defense arguments related to maritime crimes.
The moot trial on Tuesday 14 May 2024, which was held as part of the visit of the Justice to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Rear Admiral (R/Adm) Issah Adam Yakubu, and of Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS 2024, was aimed to enhance the understanding of maritime law, and promote effective collaboration between Ghana’s Judiciary, Navy, and other stakeholders, in tackling the lack of legal finish in maritime crimes.
Justice Mensah emphasized the importance of a legal finish to these crimes, ensuring that perpetrators face justice and serve as a deterrent to others, at the session which brought together legal practitioners from GAF’s General Headquarters (GHQ) Legal Department, representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL, Ministry of Justice, and other maritime law enforcement agencies.
The visit at the Naval Headquarters, Burma Camp, Accra, marked a significant gesture of collaboration between the Judiciary and the Ghana Navy (GN) in the fight against maritime crimes and, to also address the lack of legal-finish to maritime cases.
Justice B. Mensah and R/Adm IA Yakubu discussed the challenges of combating maritime crimes, including piracy, illegal narcotics transportation and illegal fishing, and emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach, involving both law enforcement and the judiciary.
The CNS commended the Chief Justice – Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo for her support, and also thanked Justice B. Mensah for his proactive approach and commitment to supporting the Ghana Navy’s efforts in combating maritime crimes.
According to the Director, Legal Affairs at the Naval Headquarters – Naval Captain Naa Ayeley Akwei-Aryee, Exercise Obangame has been in existence for over a decade without a legal finish, thus the need for an effective one.
Present at the event were the Former CNS, Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Faidoo (Rtd) (a legal practitioner); United States Naval Attaché to Ghana – Commander McLean; Director General, GAF Legal Services – Brigadier General Benjamin Amoah-Boakye, amongst others.
Credit: GN PR
