Veep Bawumia inspecting a guard of honour on his arrived at the Sekondi Naval Base
The Ghana Navy has expressed its readiness to combat all illegal activities, including oil bunkering, in the face of a growing concern about the threats posed by piracy, drug trafficking and fishing on the country’s territorial waters.
To this end, the Navy has appealed to the government to ensure that it is well resourced to effectively deal with the challenges and other tasks.
It has also indicated that it would continue to ensure the country’s territorial integrity and provide safe sea passage to all legitimate traffic.
Commodore Isaac Osei Kuffuor, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Western Naval Command, disclosed this when Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia visited the Sekondi Naval Base yesterday.
The vice president was at the Base to among other things, inspect some installations of the Navy in Sekondi and also identify some of its problems and how best they could be resolved.
Commodore Osei Kuffuor mentioned inadequate accommodation, fuel for operations and illegal oil bunkering as some of the major challenges confronting the Ghana Navy.
He indicated that despite the inadequate resources, it had been able to make some arrests relating to oil bunkering.
He disclosed that about nine people, allegedly engaging in illegal bunkering activities, had so far been arrested and were facing prosecution.
Four specialized canoes and four oil tankers used in the illegal business on the high seas had also been impounded at New Takoradi and Inchaban – all in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis – and are being kept at the Naval Base for investigation.
“In order to effectively stamp out the criminal activities from the country’s waters, the Navy needs more resources to enable it to undertake its constitutional duties,” the Navy officer appealed.
He continued, “It is the Navy which can protect Ghana’s sea by being present constantly.”
The FOC disclosed that the naval intelligence was analyzing and interpreting the activities of the criminal groups in order to find the best way to handle them.
After the briefing, the Navy personnel went into a closed door meeting with the vice president.
From the Naval Base, Dr Bawumia visited the paramount chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia V.
He told the chief that achieving the government’s policy of Ghana beyond aid means the right decisions should be taken to deal with all illegalities that deprive the country of its revenue.
Nana Kobina Nketsia V commended the government for the good job done so far.
The vice president pointed out that the country has to maximize the use of its own internal resources, stressing that the maritime resources are very important.
He maintained, “We have come in to understand what the challenges of the Naval Command are; and they basically need some support in terms of boats and ships, fuel and other areas. We are going to make sure we provide them.”
He gave the assurance that he was going to brief the president and Cabinet on the issues and how to deal with them.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Sekondi