PREZ AKUFO-ADDO COMMISSIONS GNS ACHIMOTA & FOB EZINLIBO FOR GHANA NAVY

The Commander-In-Chief (C-In-C), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – His Excellency (HE) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned Ghana Navy’s (GN) largest patrol vessel – Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) ACHIMOTA, and the much-awaited Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ezinlibo, in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region.

FOB Ezinlibo, which has features such as a harbour, Administration Block, and accommodation units for over one thousand (1,000) personnel among others, and the 65-meter long auxiliary vessel GNS ACHIMOTA, were commissioned on Monday 23 December 2024.

The Naval Base whose sod was cut for construction on Monday 16 December 2019, is intended to be a facility that serves as a Naval Base with all the other functions for quicker defence deployment capabilities, towards rebuffing any attack on Ghana’s hydrocarbon resources, in particular, and the territorial integrity, in general.

Facilities of FOB Ezinlibo when in full throttle, would include breakwater, a jetty with berthing facilities, and would also have six (6) Phantom boats, as well as provide other equipment to enhance operational efficiency, as an advance operations location, from where the security of Ghana’s offshore oil fields – TEN, SANKOFA and JUBILEE – can be coordinated.

In his commissioning speech, HE Nana Akufo-Addo highlighted the significance of GN’s role in securing the country’s maritime resources, and contribution to regional and global peace, emphasizing that the commissioning of GNS ACHIMOTA and FOB Ezinlibo, serve as a reminder of the Navy’s importance in safeguarding the territorial maritime space of Ghana.

He posited that, GNS Achimota, measuring 65 meters in length, is an auxiliary vessel meant to enhance operational readiness, to combat illegal maritime activities, conduct search and rescue missions, and assist in logistics resupply to mission areas all over the world.

The C-In-C also noted that GN has successfully integrated drone technology into its operations, enabling intelligence-driven missions and surveillance of Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), significantly improving maritime security, and making the sea safer for those reliant on maritime trade.

HE Akufo-Addo also paid glowing tribute to the Minister for Defence, and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla – Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul; the Chief of the Defence Staff, GAF – Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah; and the Chief of the Naval Staff – Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, for their efforts in ensuring the timely completion of the projects.

Admiral Yakubu, when launching Ghana Navy’s 65 years anniversary on Monday 29 July 2024, hinted of the acquisition of the 65-meter GNS from Japan, and stated that the Ezinlibo Naval Base, when completed, would become the Headquarters of GN’s Logistics Command.

Ghana’s crude oil daily production rate could rise from 80,000 barrels per day to over 200,000, and it is anticipated that with the coming into play of FOB Ezinlibo, piracy, Illegal bunkering, kidnapping at sea for ransom, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, terrorism, drug trafficking and armed robbery, amongst others, in the Gulf of Guinea maritime domain, should be effectively countered.

Present at the ceremony were the Minister for Defence, Honourable Dominic Nitiwul, Deputy Defence Minister, Honourable Kofi Amankwah-Manu, Chief of the Defence Staff, GAF – Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, Service Chiefs and other senior military officers both serving and retired.

Credit: Office of the CDS, GAF, and Desk