Kofi Ampeah Woode
African countries stand to lose enormously, if an effective and coordinated strategy is not evolved to ensure sustainable utilization of the maritime enclave, and to protect the domain against unlawful exploitation and disruption.
The Guest of Honour for the closing ceremony of Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College’s (GAFCSC) 5-day 2024 Maritime Sector Governance Course (MSGC) – Mr Kenneth Kwamina Thompson, who is the Founder of Dalex Financial Services Limited, made the call, at the Hamidu Hall, Otu Barracks, Teshie Ridge, Accra.
Mr Thompson added that another way to improve GoG’s ocean governance effort, is to bridge the gap between Centres of Excellence, the operating institutions, and all related maritime-sector industries.
He continued that, due to its complex nature and immense size, the maritime sector is particularly susceptible to unlawful exploitation and disruption by individuals, organisations and states, although the environment facilitates unique freedom of movement of goods, while allowing people and cargo to transit with anonymity, which is generally not available by movement over land or air.
He continued that, some individuals and organisations have demonstrated a continuing desire to exploit maritime vulnerabilities for their parochial interest, much to the detriment of the generality of respective countries and the sub region.
He buttressed his point that, 65% in value of the fish caught in the GoG is Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, amounting to $1.5 billion, and that taking Ghana as an example, losing about $300 million to IUU is a significant part to her budget, since her national budget is just about $10 billion.
Mr Thompson therefore, challenged the Command of GAFCSC to reach out to the maritime industry, to propose areas of study for the various research works the students have to do, and the findings forwarded to the relevant agencies, for them to determine which ones they could implement for the growth and development of their respective countries.
At the end of the course, MSGC ’24 taught that dealing with the various threats in the GoG region requires the application of complex multi-agency and multi-national solutions; and that to ensure effective and efficient management of the space, there is a need to coordinate the efforts of all agencies involved in the maritime domain, and improving communication among them.
The Maritime training also communicated that, it is necessary to improve inter-agency cooperation and information-sharing among participating institutions, to counter sea-based illicit maritime activity and strengthen safety and security in the GoG.
Activities during the Course spanned the spectrum of maritime security issues, focusing on topics such as Search and Rescue; Maritime Domain Awareness, Maritime Law, IUU fishing; and the International Shipping and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
It was refreshing to see the participation of Ghana Police Service at the MSGC ’24, especially in a panel discussion that preceded the closing ceremony.
Present at the ceremony included the Acting-Commandant, GAFCSC – Brigadier General Abass Seidu; Acting Assistant Commandant – Colonel (Col) William Kwabiah; Chief Coordinator – Col Maxwell Mantey; Dean, Academic Affairs – Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso; Chief Instructors, Members of the Academic Faculty, Directing Staff, Directors, and the Commanding Officer.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
