Rear Admiral Seth Amoama handing over the Wheel of Command to Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu
“I want to sound a note of caution to criminals out there at sea. Ghanaian waters will no longer be an easy prey for you. We will hunt you down and destroy you…” Those were the words of the newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, as he took over from Rear Admiral Seth Amoama.
Until his appointment, Rear Admiral Yakubu was the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, the former CNS, was recently appointed as the acting Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces by President Akufo-Addo.
At a colourful parade and handing over ceremony held last Friday at the Naval Headquarters in Accra, Rear Admiral Yakubu promised to ensure that our waters are free of all criminal activities, adding that sea farers should feel safe enough to conduct their business without fear in order to expand their blue economy.
“We assure the government and the international community that we would work hard to achieve and also enhance our cooperation with the Ghana Air Force to continue to collaborate with other stakeholders to realise a common goal to secure our waters,” the new Chief of Naval Staff said.
Rear Admiral Yakubu admitted that piracy situation in the Gulf Of Guinea was getting worse and while the situation in the maritime domain of Ghana was relatively safer, a lot more needed to be done.
Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, in a hand over statement, recounted successes he chalked while in office.
He stated that by dint of hard work and their collective determination, they were able to complete most of the major projects that he inherited from his predecessor, Rear Admiral Faidoo, and new ones started with majority of them completed.
He said the commissioning of the Naval Training Command and other ultra modern training facilities at Nutekpor was highly acknowledged by both locals and international partners as a world-class training centre.
“In addition, the construction of a swimming pool at the eastern naval command which started last year has also competed to support training in the command.
“We have also made some modest effort towards addressing one of the most critical welfare related challenges in the navy.
“We have completed and commissioned a 16-unit accommodation for officers at the wardroom in Accra and ratings transit quarters at the Ghana Navy Supply Depot in Takoradi,” Rear Admiral Seth Amoama stated.
He thanked President Akufo-Addo for giving him the opportunity to serve as the CNS and also elevating him to the highest office in the Ghana Armed Forces under his administration.
(lindatenyah@gmail.com)
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey